GCC hydrogen projects will need 45,000 specialists by 2028
Green and blue hydrogen investment across Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman is triggering the largest energy hiring wave since the LNG expansion of 2010.
Announced hydrogen capacity across the GCC now exceeds 12 GW of electrolyser demand by 2030. Behind every FID sits a hiring plan — and the specialist labour market is not ready.
We are seeing the sharpest demand for electrolyser commissioning engineers, ammonia synthesis specialists, and grid-connection experts capable of managing gigawatt-scale interconnections between renewables and hydrogen offtake.
Employers should build their talent pipeline 18 to 24 months ahead of first hydrogen. Candidates with adjacent experience — LNG commissioning, HVDC, or ammonia handling in petrochemicals — are transferable and available now.