Many people in the oil and gas industry have been thinking hard about future workforce needs. They cite the number of experienced engineers and other professionals who have retired, or are getting ready to, and ask who will replace them and where they will be trained.
A dramatically improved US exploration and production outlook resulting from tight shale and deepwater technologies makes the matter much more urgent.
Consequently there were few surprises in a report, "Emerging Workforce Trends in the US Energy and Mining Industries," which the National Research Council, one of the federal government's national scientific academies, released on Mar. 21. It nevertheless contained several important observations.
One was that industry-education partnerships at community colleges or in the first 2 years of higher education have become critical.
"Community colleges are proving to be the best vehicle for delivering the technician-level, skills-based education that the energy and mining industries need in a STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] technical workforce," the report said.
The committee compiling the report learned of 19 efforts by educational institutions that have become excellent career pathways. "Opportunities also exist to attract young people, including ethnic minorities and women, into STEM and technical programs that could lead to energy and mining careers," it said.
The report's seven recommendations included convening industry, government, and education leaders to discuss new approaches for developing these career pathways.
It suggested that the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies and departments increase research funding to universities, which industry would match, with two specific outcomes: to advance processes driving innovation and graduate or undergraduate education, and to develop faculty members "who work on the cutting edge of research to enhance the quality of higher education."
Educating the public
Improving the public's perception of extraction industries also will matter, the report stated. It urged trade organizations and educational institutions to provide accurate and timely information on careers, educational and training resources, and ways to get experience.
"In like fashion, [they] should also embark on an informational campaign to educate students, parents, educators, and public policymakers about the energy and mining industries' importance to our economic and national security, the relevance of STEM education to jobs and careers in these industries, and job availability," it continued.
Data about extraction industry careers also should be improved, and well-qualified federal employees who regulate it need to be recruited to replace present or near-future retirees, the report said. It urged extractive industries to collaborate with all levels of government "to develop solutions to the problem of recruiting and retaining quality public sector employees."
None of this is news, of course, but reminders always help.
