Over the past decade, the upstream oil and gas industry has observed employment changes due to cyclical trends and a secular shift.
Cyclical Trends: Broad employment levels correlating to oil and natural gas prices
Secular Shift: Shale development, leading to a fundamental change in exploration and a focus on efficiency and "manufacturing" production models
To show the changes over time, I pulled data sets from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. My previous overviews used the monthly reported information. In this report, I am primarily using the annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).
The data set runs from 2012 - 2020. The analysis highlights both cyclical and secular shifts to employment in the upstream industry.
2012 - E&P companies hold a high percentage of technical and exploration experts
2020 - Efficiencies, technology advancement, & core development shift corporate priorities. A depreciation of technical expertise.
A few examples:
Engineers
Remain the largest group in E&P companies
Overall employment down 45% vs 2012
More individuals out of E&P vs any other group
Geoscientists
A steady decline in employment starting before sector employment reduction
Overall employment down 58% vs 2012
IT
A growth field across the industry
Gained proportional share in both E&P and OFS
Surpassed Geoscience employees in 2016
Rig Workers
An increased proportional share of OFS employment
Overall employment down 36% vs 2012
More individuals out of industry vs any other group
The data set isn't perfect, but it does show changes in the industry as it continues to evolve.
Download the full presentation below.
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