A shortage of skilled workers continues to “plague” the oil and gas sector according to new figures showing two thirds of employers want to take on more staff.

The Oil & Gas Global Salary Guide found 68.1% of employers plan to increase headcount in 2014.

Around 24,000 people responded to the research and out of the employers polled, 83% predicted an upturn in salaries in the coming year as hiring managers “vie for top talent”.

Ed Allnutt, Director of recruitment firm Hays Oil & Gas which added to the report said: “Skills shortages are continuing to plague the industry and are clearly a concern for employers. Although there are measures underway to tackle this it should remain a key focus.

“Developing graduates in STEM subjects and ensuring talented professionals have access to work in the UK are both critical. Government, business and education need to work together to make inroads that will benefit the industry and everybody working within it.”

The statistics come a month after UK Government figures suggested the North Sea industry has failed to recover from a 50% drop in the number of exploration wells drilled in 2011.

In January, UK trade body Oil & Gas UK’s boss Malcolm Webb complained of a “two speed” North Sea with a few large projects pumping out a lot while oil and gas from existing fields dwindles and the number of exploration wells has “slumped”.