Although six million jobs have disappeared from the US labour market in the last 18 months, there is still a high demand for highly skilled workers, Chris McGrary, a manager at specialist construction firm Cianbro Corporation, has claimed.

Speaking to the New York Times, he explained that some professions, such as welding, are in high demand and short supply, with many applicants failing to achieve the standards required by the oil and gas industry during recruitment.

He explained that when these skilled workers are found, they will be headhunted by another employer unless they are hired quickly.

Larry Jacobson, executive director of the National Society of Professional Engineers, also told the paper there was an acute shortage in the civil engineering sector.

"What's missing are enough licensed professionals who have worked at least five years under experienced engineers before taking the licensing exam," he said.

The paper attributed this dearth in large part to the lack of vocational training support in the US.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development