Advertisements are currently being placed by Statoil for 107 apprentices to join the parent company on 1 September.
These recruits will learn to be automation technicians, electricians, industrial mechanics, cooks, laboratory technicians and chemical process operatives, with 10 positions as office and materials administrators. This year apprentices will also be trained as security guards.
Training will be provided at Statoil's Norwegian offices and production facilities on land and offshore.
"We're maintaining our intake of apprentices at the same level as last year," says Nickey Berg, vice president for learning solutions in corporate human resources.
The group can thereby ensure that it has the skilled workers needed in future while acting in accordance with Norwegian policy on apprenticeships, which requires the authorities to provide theoretical training and industry to offer practical jobs.
According to Ms Berg, predictability is important for this policy. If industry varies its intake substantially from year to year, fewer young people will apply for vocational college courses leading to trade qualifications. The result could be a shortfall of trainees and skilled workers.
It has not been difficult in the past to secure enough qualified apprentices, says Erna Jensen, senior training coordinator in corporate services.
Statoil received 1,078 applications for the 129 places on offer last year. Even though the number of applicants is high overall, the group would like to see even more in some disciplines.
"We hope to get many applicants for the 49 apprenticeships in chemical processing," explains Ms Jensen. "We've also had fewer laboratory technician applicants than we'd like in the past. This year we'd like to take on 10."
Once an apprenticeship has been completed, the qualified worker can apply for internal vacancies in the group.