The aging workforce in the Canadian oil and gas industry will force companies to invest in training and development to promote long-term growth, Raj Mehta, a professor with the Schulich School of Engineering, has insisted.

Speaking to the Calgary Herald, he said that while many firms are scaling back their operational budgets and hiring programmes, there is still a strong recognition of the risks of encountering a skills and worker shortfall once there is an upturn in the economy.

"We know in a year or two, which is anybody's guess, when the thing rebounds, it's going to go even harder," he told the paper.

Meanwhile, Shaun Davis, a spokesperson for Canadian oil and gas major Suncor Energy, explained that the company was still involved in extensive recruitment and training programmes in key areas throughout the country

Suncor has recently successfully completed a merger with fellow oil giant Petro-Canada, with both companies trading under the Suncor brand.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development