our diverse workforce

ExxonMobil benefits from the cultural differences, knowledge, and skills of our employees who represent the diverse communities of the world. Their combined contributions allow us to achieve superior business results and operate in a socially responsible manner. We also have a responsibility to build a legacy of economic progress by maximizing the number of local employment opportunities and investing in the workforce of our host countries, in particular in emerging and developing economies.

At year-end 2007, ExxonMobil’s worldwide workforce numbered nearly 81,000 employees, of which about 37 percent were located within the United States and 63 percent internationally. Expatriates comprised nearly 4 percent of our total workforce. In 2007, ExxonMobil hired more than 3700 management and professional employees worldwide, of which approximately 38 percent were women and 71 percent were hired outside the United States.

Workforce Nationalization
Our strategy for workforce nationalization involves increasing the number of national employees over the life span of a project and providing the necessary training and education to develop people for both operational and leadership roles. Over the short term, we employ expatriates — those working outside of their home countries on ExxonMobil assignments — to share their expertise, train, and mentor the national workforce. This ensures the longterm success of our projects and helps us to integrate into the communities in which we operate.