(Kaieteur News) – ExxonMobil Guyana’s Country Manager, Alistair Routledge, has announced that a major industrial baseline study commissioned by the company to assess labour shortages in Guyana’s oil and gas sector will be completed before the end of this year.

Routledge made the disclosure on Wednesday while addressing attendees at the Handover Ceremony for the Letter of Approval of Local Content Plans, held at Duke Lodge. He acknowledged that while the number of Guyanese employed in the sector has grown steadily, the industry continues to face significant challenges in sourcing local workers with the advanced skills and educational qualifications the sector demands.

“As we look forward, I truly believe that the education sector, whether it be vocational education or professional education, is going to be a critical part,” Routledge said. “In fact, ExxonMobil has commissioned an industrial baseline study that will be completed later this year.”