Hays Oil and Gas senior regional director Simon Winfield said there continued to be high demand from companies involved in Australia's resources boom.

"These companies are adding headcount, focusing on staff development and retention and are actively planning strategies to help overcome the skills shortage," he said.

"High demand for our commodities is coming from China, and an increase in demand is expected from India and other parts of Asia. As a result, various studies point to a jump in the number of jobs in mining, oil and gas. Candidates are aware of this jobs bonanza and are expressing great interest in opportunities on offer."

He noted that Hays was bombarded with interest at Queensland's recent Mining and Gas Jobs Expo and continues to receive more than 20 calls a week from people outside the industry asking about how to break into it.

"There is unprecedented interest in a career in this booming sector," Winfield said.

"For those considering their study options, we would advise that training in geology, engineering or any other skill in demand in this sector will certainly pay off in the future."

According to Hays, the following skills will be in most demand over the next three to five years (skills are listed in descending order with the skill in most demand, and the reason why, listed first):

Queensland:

1. Project Engineering. "As projects move into development, construction and commissioning there is an ongoing need for project engineers to ensure that each stage meets the technical and operational requirements of the project as well as key project milestones and quality. This expertise will also be required to provide technical input to support construction and commissioning staff."
2. Project Services / Controls
3. Construction Management
4. Engineering
5. Operations & Maintenance

Western Australia:

1. Subsea Pipeline Engineers. "There is a global shortage of candidates with specific experience in the design and engineering of subsea pipelines. This issue is even more severe in Western Australia where several major projects require subsea pipelines."
2. Estimators
3. Subsea Trees Engineers
4. Process Engineers
5. Flow Assurance Engineers

NSW:

1. Process Engineers. "There is a shortage of local talent in this area with operational experience. A lot of good process engineers are working overseas and are not looking to come back home, while the candidates that are here are attracted to the higher salaries on offer in Western Australia."
2. E&I Engineers
3. Senior Geoscience staff
4. Geophysicists
5. Mechanical Engineers

Victoria:

1. Mechanical Design Engineers. "Victoria is losing these skills to Western Australia and Queensland, where higher salaries are on offer. There are also a number of new projects that have been awarded to national and global consultancies who manage the design from their Melbourne office."
2. Geologists
3. Principal/Senior Process Engineers
4. Design Drafters
5. E&I Engineers

South Australia:

1. Lead Mechanical Engineers. "South Australia remains one of the nation's largest onshore oil and gas producers but senior level engineers continue to be lured by high salaries and large scale projects interstate and overseas. This will result in severe shortages to oversee EPCM projects scheduled over the next five years."
2. Project Planners/Cost Controllers
3. Process Engineers
4. Drilling Engineers
5. Hydraulic Fitters