By OGJ editors
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- The US Department of Labor granted $2.1 million to the San Juan College in Farmington, NM, to train oil field workers from five states:New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming.
The Independent Petroleum Association of America praised the action Friday, saying one of the industry's most pressing issues is the short supply of highly skilled oil and natural gas professionals.
"There's a new threat to America's domestic energy supply," said Diemer True, IPAA chairman and partner of the True Oil Co. in Casper, Wyo. "In the next 2 decades, our industry will be challenged by a supply crunch of skilled workers. We're simply not recruiting a qualified workforce of geoscientists and other highly trained professionals."
IPAA is part of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission's Petroleum Professionals Blue Ribbon Task Force, which is now studying the industry's workforce issues and making recommendations.
Sobering statistics
The group cited the following statistics as a need for action:
-- Some 40% of the industry's current workforce is expected to reach retirement age this decade. (National Petroleum Council)
-- "Overall employment in the oil and gas extraction industry is expected to decline 17% through the year 2008, even though worldwide demand for oil and gas is expected to remain strong." (DOL)
-- Enrollment in geology and petroleum engineering majors continues to decline, with the largest drop during 1983-90 from 48,000 students to 21,000. (American Geological Institute)
