Employee data

Shell employs 102,000 people in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. Our people are central to the delivery of the Shell business strategy of More Upstream, Profitable Downstream. In 2008, our people strategy continued to focus mainly on recruiting, developing skills and improving employee performance.

During 2008 we continued to invest in the development of our staff. Our approach to learning focused on deepening professional skills, particularly in technical disciplines. Many activities also focused on improving health and safety performance. We continued to strengthen skills and leadership capabilities of our staff throughout Shell.

Shell’s ability to compete effectively and to become a preferred partner for governments is influenced by the quality of our staff and our capacity to deliver high-quality services and technology in order to develop complex world-class projects. Recruiting, developing and deploying skilled people therefore remains essential to our business and remains one of our strengths. In 2008, we recruited more than 5,500 people worldwide from more than 90 countries. These comprised 1,050 graduates and 4,500 experienced professionals with more than half (57%) of all recruits coming from technical disciplines.

We believe our ability to compete effectively in the global marketplace is affected by our ability to attract and retain diverse staff that reflect the countries where we operate, and the suppliers and customers with whom we do business. The integration of diversity and inclusion (D&I) into Shell’s operations and culture is therefore essential to our success.