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-   -   Gorgon Project Update (https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/gorgon-project-update-777071/)

keel Jul 3rd 2013 1:03 am

Re: Gorgon Project Update
 
Aye Brian

Things have changed over here in the last few years.

You might have noticed a lot of the workshops have closed since you were over here last. The old Western Construction shop was taken over by Downers and closed its doors 2 months ago. The huge workshop called Civmech has no work and will close soon and all this during the biggest boom WA has ever seen. Its as if the engineering industry has gouged itself to death. Everything is being sent overseas to be constructed. When this boom is finally over there will be no industry left.

I wouldn't jump back to Scotland just yet though. 4 weeks is not a long time to get your foot in the door. Because most of the work now is for the big oil companies the recruiting processes become very drawn out.

Keel


Originally Posted by brian.w (Post 10782268)
been here 4 weeks now and been applying asking around for 2 of them weeks and hardly any reply back,and any that did say things are slow,i know it was 10 years ago i was traveling here and got the same job 4 months later and was always getting calls for work,now i have moved my family over here im wondering if i did the right thing,i have worked a lot offshore back in the uk giving up a job i was on offshore after being there 2 years with possible more years on that,and hardly been out of work back in the uk,things i think have changed here and im now wondering if i made a huge mistake in coming over here,I thought oil and gad industry was booming here then why am i sitting here looking for work?I know i would get work next day back home,im a pipefitter just incase anyone asks.Hope things get better as i would hate to consider going back to uk which would be a costly mistake for me.


SUPERCAD Jul 3rd 2013 10:41 pm

Re: Gorgon Project Update
 
We are seeing a big pull back.. most of our fabrication work goes offshore as it can be 4 time cheaper from china landed here..

seems to me Europe is on a roll with off shore work Scotland being one of the hubs

jimbo_d Jul 4th 2013 1:08 am

Re: Gorgon Project Update
 
Engineering in Perth feels like London 10 years ago where things got a bit pricey and everything that could be done overseas was. In that time London (and Aberdeen) have gone full swing around as wages stagnated and the pound dropped, now UK is booming for engineering work as it's lower cost and good quality. I expect the same to happen here with wages to drop for the next few years for those lucky to hang on, no more big detailed design jobs after Roy Hill for quite some time. There will be lots of O&M stuff though for existing plants and as the dollar and wages fall more and more will come back in - I hope... It's really tough in Perth at the moment, and as the engineering side is at the front I would think there's a tough few years ahead for the rest here as it flows through.

La Vida loca Jul 5th 2013 12:47 pm

Re: Gorgon Project Update
 
People have outpriced themselves.

Full Stop.

SUPERCAD Jul 6th 2013 6:17 pm

Re: Gorgon Project Update
 

Originally Posted by jimbo_d (Post 10784386)
Engineering in Perth feels like London 10 years ago where things got a bit pricey and everything that could be done overseas was. In that time London (and Aberdeen) have gone full swing around as wages stagnated and the pound dropped, now UK is booming for engineering work as it's lower cost and good quality. I expect the same to happen here with wages to drop for the next few years for those lucky to hang on, no more big detailed design jobs after Roy Hill for quite some time. There will be lots of O&M stuff though for existing plants and as the dollar and wages fall more and more will come back in - I hope... It's really tough in Perth at the moment, and as the engineering side is at the front I would think there's a tough few years ahead for the rest here as it flows through.

:goodpost:

One of the problems i see here is the wage expectation of relatively unskilled labor coming out of the mines. There is work about but people need to travel for it i think the days have gone were you can expect to stay in one place for your entire career, I realise that this can still be done but the planet is a very small place these days aand if you want the premium projects you cant sit on your hands.
Employers can afford to be very choosey at the moment and cherry pick the better workers.
Off shore wind in Europe is going gang busters at the moment and all the related onshore backup work which can only be good for the UK, there are some great success stories related to this in the press. Germany giving the green light to 1360ish new turbines a few weeks back is a very small part of this industry but it seems to be were Europe is heading .

Amazulu Jul 6th 2013 9:42 pm

Re: Gorgon Project Update
 

Originally Posted by La Vida loca (Post 10786594)
People have outpriced themselves.

Full Stop.

Not so. The price of labour is based on the availability of labour (which can have many factors). When labour is in short supply, the price goes up - and vice versa

Companies pay what they need to pay to secure the labour they require. No profitable company pays more for labour than they need to

People don't outprice themselves - the market decides

Basic economics

La Vida loca Jul 6th 2013 10:48 pm

Re: Gorgon Project Update
 
People have outpriced themselves... as now they cant accept a lower wage...

Big mortgages, loans, cars, boats, fancy holidays.... a slow down approaching.... basic economics..... a severe correction,...... ooops can this be a recession? Im unsure.

Who can afford this, what about billy the mechanic on $50k a year in the city, took a job on $120k but now as no job, no real qualifications, what does he say to his wife and the $400k mortgage he has?

Amazulu Jul 7th 2013 1:08 pm

Re: Gorgon Project Update
 

Originally Posted by La Vida loca (Post 10788130)
People have outpriced themselves... as now they cant accept a lower wage...

Big mortgages, loans, cars, boats, fancy holidays.... a slow down approaching.... basic economics..... a severe correction,...... ooops can this be a recession? Im unsure.

Who can afford this, what about billy the mechanic on $50k a year in the city, took a job on $120k but now as no job, no real qualifications, what does he say to his wife and the $400k mortgage he has?

People living beyond their means - who'd of thunk it?

A particularly Australian phenomenon


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