Human resources, Dan Glaser

A week ago, I had the pleasure of sipping tea high above the trees of the Kuala Lumpur city centre, but suffered the displeasure of not being able to cut through the plexi glass that seperated me and my fellow tea drinker. Our conversation encompassed the beautiful building we were in, the state of the world's shipping companies ("India doesn't have experience") and much more. But we never got to the heart of one particular matter that I've recently become obsessed with: The Workforce.

When the discussion meandered towards human resources, I voiced what I figured was a logical thought: a company with an excessively young workforce is indicative of a retention problem, and that maybe such a company needed to do something about it. The suggestion was met with a gruff rebuke, and we left the subject.

But Dan Glaser said at the National Oil Companies Conference in Dubai:

National oil companies require innovative, cutting edge technology and thought. Yet, there are many obstacles in your way. To name a few, you find yourselves coping with accessing a skilled labour force. Even when skilled labour is available, oil companies have to meet the rising cost for that workforce.

Can we both be wrong?