Many trained Thai geoscientists have gone on to achieve management positions at the highest levels in oil and gas companies and government sectors. The geoscientist community has been part of profession that delivers enormous economic value to Thailand, and much of this community is settled in the oil and gas industry. A number of geosciences specialties relevant to the oil and gas industry have been identified by the industry as already suffering skills shortages. This is one the reasons behind leading petroleum companies carrying out programs to attract young talented students at high school levels to step into future geosciences professions under their umbrellas. This is an effective approach to ensure that they will have sufficient geoscientists to work in their future ambitious plans. Currently, the shortage situation has been temporarily solved by importing expatriates with needed skills to work in their companies. In 2011, the Geological Society of Thailand conducted a preliminary survey on both the demand side, with 31 oil and gas companies, 27 private companies and 12 government departments who employ geoscientists, and on the supply side, by consulting with six universities offering training in geosciences in Thailand ( Chulalongkorn, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Mahidol , Kasetsart and Suranaree universities). The survey results indicate that an overall situation of an oversupply of geoscientists is certainly unavoidable. The supply rate of approximately 300- 400 fresh graduates each year will exceed the demand from the industry, both the private and government sector. During 2010 to 2021 the demand from the government sector indicated there will be a flat and small need for employing these fresh graduates and that only the private sector will be the driving employer for this workforce. By 2021 the private sector can take up approximately one fifth of the additional 3000-4000 geoscientist workforce members needed for supply into the industry. This will be a critical challenge for Geological Society of Thailand as its work with academia, industry and the government sector to satisfy specialty shortage gaps and yet also manage the difficulties of an overall oversupply of geoscientists.
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