Advertisements are being placed by Statoil for 100 apprentices to join the parent company on 1 September.
These recruits will learn to be automation technicians and mechanics, electricians, industrial mechanics, cooks, laboratory technicians, chemical process operatives or office and materials administrators.
Their 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 1999 level, despite the downsizing currently under way in the group," says Øivind Born, manager for personnel and expertise training in Exploration & Production Norway.
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.
Predictability is important for this policy, says Mr Born. 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 Jarleiv Haugland, who is responsible for their training.
Statoil received more than 1,100 applications for the roughly 100 places on offer last year. Once an apprenticeship has been completed, the qualified worker can apply for vacancies in the group.