Early results from the third Salary Guide survey by specialist recruitment firm Hays Oil and Gas and industry job site Oil and Gas Job Search has shown that more than half of all respondents have received salary increases in the last year, with the largest number receiving an increase of 5% or more.

The increase is seen as being due to high investment in the sector as a buoyant oil price more than offsets uncertainties in the wider economy.

Other results from the survey also show that salary, career opportunities and job security are the most important factors for oil and gas candidates in today's market, while employers are most concerned with skill shortages.