EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF AUTOMATION ON OCCUPATIONAL CONTENTMENT AND COMPETENCE DEPLOYMENT IN THE NIGERIAN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Abstract

The recent developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) coupled with advancements in robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have continued to revolutionise how critical sectors of human society like the oil and gas industry operate. The oil and gas industry is the bedrock of the Nigerian economy and has been at the forefront of technological innovation in Nigeria. However, automation is complex and goes beyond automating machines and processes. Thus, this study explored the impact of automation on occupational contentment and competence deployment in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry. The study employed a quantitative research method. The population of the study was 10,671 employees in the industry. A sample of 385 participants was determined using the Yamane Taro method. A questionnaire was administered as the instrument of data collection. The findings revealed a moderate level of automation adoption in the industry as evidenced by an overall mean score of 3.75 on a scale of 5.00. This indicates a significant but not pervasive implementation across the industry. More so, it was found that automation has a generally positive effect on job satisfaction, as indicated by a mean score of 3.80. However, there were concerns about job security, indicating a need for balanced automation strategies to address worker’s concerns about displacement. In conclusion, the study highlights the significant, and complex impact of automation on the Nigerian oil and gas industry. It is recommended that the Nigerian oil and gas industry should invest heavily in automation and training of their workforce in response thereof.