Industry body Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) has announced plans to encourage more diversity in the workforce.
The organisation will launch a network which will highlight inclusion and identify areas where firms can collaborate to attract new talent.
A review published by skills body Opito and the Robert Gordon University last year forecasted the industry will need to recruit and retain 40,000 people between now and 2035, and take on 10,000 in entirely new roles like robotics and data science.
OGUK, which has made the announcement to mark International Women’s Day, said fostering a diverse workforce was key to success.
Chief executive Deirdre Michie said: “For the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry, International Women’s Day helps to celebrate the progress that has been made.
“It is a welcome reminder that more needs to be done to ensure a better balance in our industry, ensuring that it is and will continue to be a great place to work.
“OGUK is proud to champion industry’s efforts to date to improve diversity, not only today but throughout the year.
“The moral and business cases for better balance are clear and well-established and we need to embrace them if we are to ensure this sector sustains and improves its competitiveness.
“Our industry supports over 280,000 skilled jobs, but with women representing only one in four of the sector’s talent pool, there is clearly still more work to be done.”
International Women’s Day is being marked throughout the industry.
Norwegian operator Equinor took an all-female group from Aker Solutions and Oil and Gas UK to its Mariner platform east of Shetland to highlight the opportunities for women in the sector.
Meanwhile helicopter operator CHC hosted an event earlier this week, which also included Shell, Total and Schlumberger to speak to female pupils at Robert Gordon’s College.
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