The world depends on the petrochemical industry. From the petrol you put in your car through to the polystyrene cup that holds your morning coffee, the petrochemical industry has a huge impact on our daily lives. The industry supports a wealth of petrochemical jobs that all have an important impact on both national and international economics. So if you are thinking about looking for a career in petrochemical jobs, it’s worth taking a moment to understand just how fundamental the industry is to the world economy and a little background information on petrochemical products and their uses.

Crude oil – the basic component

The basic component of all petrochemical products is crude oil. After extensive refining, this crude oil goes on to produce everything from asphalt for road surfacing through to kerosene to power aircraft. Chemically, petrochemical products fall into three distinct groups – olefins, aromatics and synthesis gas. The major components of olefins are ethylene and propylene and form the basis of several industrial chemicals and plastic products. Butadiene, another component of petrochemicals, is used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber, and benzene, toluene and xylene are the principle components in aromatic petrochemical products such as synthetic detergents, plastic, synthetic fibres and polyurethanes. Synthesis gas is made up of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which produces ammonia and methanol. These are refined further to produce other synthetic products and chemicals.

By far the largest proportion of petrochemical products consumed are gasoline and fuel oils. Due to the sheer number of products derived from the petrochemical process, the industry not only employs thousands of people in petrochemical jobs, but millions of others in support industries and businesses that rely on petrochemicals as their key manufacturing component.

At the forefront of global economic growth

It is this extended infrastructure that positions the petrochemical industry at the forefront of the drive out of global recession and back into growth. Consequently, petrochemical jobs are among the most important jobs in the industry, forming the framework for a network of other occupations and jobs that depend on the production of petrochemicals for their continued existence. The best place to find petrochemical jobs is through specialist agencies on the Internet. These agencies have direct contact with the major petrochemical producers around the world, allowing candidates to choose from a global selection of jobs. In the same way that the Internet has allowed end-users of petrochemicals to contact suppliers direct, so it also promotes opportunities on an international scale for those looking for careers within the industry.

Although we will have to address our dependency on such a finite resource eventually, the petrochemical industry still has decades of life left in it yet. Alternative energy supplies do not necessarily mean a reduction on the dependency of petrochemical-based products, although research and development into new forms of polymers that can be used in plastic production are being investigated. In the meantime, the future looks bright for an industry that is seen as a key driving force in the world’s economy and the basis for nearly all manufacturing industries. Both directly and indirectly, the petrochemical sector is probably the largest employer in the world, and its continued stability is vital to the economic success of every country.

Author Bio: Paul B Smith – Search petrochemical jobs and other engineering roles in specialist sectors: oil & gas, automotive & aerospace, mining & minerals, nuclear & power. Candidates can register CVs online and search jobs across all of our sectors.

Category: Advice
Keywords: petrochemical jobs