Chemical

The Chemical Industry

Chemical companies utilise naturally occurring raw materials such as natural gas, oil, water, air and metals in the production of commercial, consumer and speciality chemicals. The largest subsection of manufactured or refined chemicals is referred to as Basic chemicals, a term encompassing polymers, rubber, petrochemicals, dyes, inorganic chemicals and fertilizers. Polymers account for the largest share of the basic chemicals sector by both output and revenue from a single product category, with plastics accounting for the vast majority of the total production output of the chemical industry worldwide.

In contrast, the life sciences and speciality chemical sectors are produced in much smaller volumes than basic chemicals but command a far higher price per unit due to their application in pharmaceuticals, crop treatment and health products.

Consumer products such as soaps, cosmetics and fragrances are produced from basic or speciality chemicals by intermediate manufacturing companies.

Why Choose a Career in the Chemical Industry

The Chemical Industry offers employment opportunities to a range of professions, from Scientists and Engineers in R&D and Production to LIMS Managers and Software Engineers in IT, as well as Commercial opportunities in Technical Sales and Business development.  Some of the largest producers and suppliers of chemicals operate globally, offering candidates from graduate to board level the chance of international vocation. Due to the ever-increasing demand for Chemicals across all sectors, the industry is experiencing steady growth.

As a result of the variety of specialisms and sectors within the Chemical industry, a career path in this area can open the door to a variety of opportunities within other industries including Agrochemical, Pharmaceutical and FMCG.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss your career options in the Chemical industry with one of our consultants.

Disciplines in Chemicals

• Chemical Engineering
• R&D Chemistry
• Quality Assurance
• Quality Control
• Process Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Technical Sales and Business Development
• Software Engineering
• Cheminformatics
• Toxicology