It is afternoon at The Children’s Museum of Houston and Angelo is scooping up pink plastic stars to see which of three different shaped cups can hold more.

In fact, they all hold the same amount, teaching the nine-year-old about spatial awareness and logic – two of many skills the energy industry is keen to develop in the workforce of tomorrow. The skills are not taught by accident – ExxonMobil is sponsoring the exhibit.

Oil and gas companies used to secure staff by offering college internships. But the industry faces the loss of 50 per cent of its most experienced workers within the next 10 years, and competition for the dwindling pool of qualified personnel has intensified. ... Read full article