Oil & gas PSUs cut 15,700 jobs in 6 years even as revenue doubles
non-managerial jobs getting hit disproportionately.
The headcount at state-run oil and gas companies dropped to 94,300 at the end of 2022-23 from 110,000 six years earlier, according to oil ministry data. The exploration and production, marketing and R&D segments shed 20-24% of jobs in six years while the refineries cut only 3%. Employment in the pipeline business rose 7%.
While the executive or managerial jobs dropped 6%, the non-managerial jobs comprising supervisors, clerks and workmen fell 25%. The drop in managerial jobs, of 27%, was most acute in the exploration and production segment. At refineries, managerial jobs expanded by 15%. Managerial jobs in the R&D divisions fell 16%.
The share of managerial jobs in total employment at state oil firms increased by 5 percentage points to 60% from 54.5%. The share of managerial jobs increased in refining (8 percentage points), R&D (3%) and marketing (16%) segments. But it declined for the exploration and production sector by 5 percentage points.
Indian Oil, ONGC, Oil India, GAIL, HPCL and BPCL didn't respond to ET's request for comment.
An industry executive, who didn't want to be identified, linked the fall in direct employment at state firms to increased outsourcing, higher adoption of technology, a rush of retirements, especially during Covid years, and limited replacements.
State-run oil companies incurred a capital expenditure of Rs 6,80,000 crore in six financial years through 2022-23.
«Employment is not directly proportional to investments in the oil
