We’ve all seen that the prices at the pump are dropping, and it’s easy to see that this has had an effect on the oil and gas industry. In some places, it is true that they’ve cut back on their labor force. However, that’s not happening everywhere. In fact, some places around the nation find the number of jobs in the industry is actually going up. Pennsylvania has always been an important part of the country’s energy sector thanks to their coalmines. With the shale boom, it showed that the state has even more to offer.
In fact, they are quite confident in PA that things are going to be just fine for the oil and gas industry. At the Pennsylvania College of Technology, students can take a training program on the shale oil industry, and even spend time training on a fake drilling rig that belongs to the school. Well over a hundred students have gone through the program, and a large number of them – around 98% – actually got jobs in the industry shortly after completion. The average rate of the jobs they received was $16.15 per hour.
While that might not seem like a lot, the numbers go up from there. Those who are working even at entry levels in the field can sometimes make between $70,000 and $80,000 if they are working overtime. The training program is teaching students what they need to know if they are working on one of these shale rigs. They are also providing students with other skills that they can use, such as welding and even how to repair diesel engines. This means that even if they don’t find a job in the oil and gas industry right away, they will be able to find other work.
The entire workforce in the oil and gas industry isn’t getting any younger, and this is actually one of the concerns that many companies have. A number of those companies are therefore actively looking to bring in some “new blood” to the field. That is what’s happening in PA right now, and even with the slowdown in the oil and gas prices, there is room for hard workers who want to learn the ropes. In addition, many of these companies find that hiring new workers to supplant those who are getting out of the field can actually help save them money since the new workers tend to have lower wages.
About Oil Works Inc.
Oil Works, Inc. is a complete drilling rig equipment manufacturer and service provider based in the Permian Basin for over 20 years. OWI’s product and service offerings include Derricks, Substructures, Drawworks, Mud Systems, Rig Walking Systems, Power Generation, Control Systems, Iron Roughneck Repair. We are a complete Drilling Equipment Manufacturer and build to API and ISO standards. OWI is also proud to offer 24/7 Service and Support.
