Drug use a buzz kill for recruiters

By Luke Johnson & news reports

01 June 2012 23:05 GMT

Drug use among potential employees on offshore rigs is impairing the ability of US recruiters to meet the growing demand for jobs, according to reports.

Offshore drillers are facing a hiring crunch, as a booming onshore market soaks up many of the available skilled workers. Impending retirements of middle and senior managers is only fuelling the shortage.

But the inability of many applicants to pass required drugs tests is also eating into the ranks of hirable candidates, according to Hercules Offshore chief executive John Rynd.

While drugs are not the biggest factor in the squeeze for offshore labourers - Rynd also blames the rise of auto manufacturing along the US Gulf coast as well as the demand for onshore services - they do play a substantial role in recruiters' difficulties finding talent.

“We have about a 30% attrition just alone on the drugs, not passing the drug test," he told Houston public radio affiliate KUHF.

Rynd told KUHF that it is common for job applicants to show up with drugs in their system despite advanced warnings that they will be tested for illicit substances as part of the application process.

"We cannot afford to allow anybody under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs to board one of our vessels,” he told the radio station.