Abstract

The Permian Basin has a reputation as the cradle of onshore oilfield technology. A major oil-producing region, it has long served as a training ground for the domestic oil and gas industry. Today, the oil and gas industry is on the front end of a serious labor shortage, with an impending loss of senior expertise to retirement. University programs in petroleum engineering and the geosciences have declined in enrollment as a result of reduced hiring by oil and gas companies. The industry has a poor public relations image that further alienates young talent. During the 1980s, unstable energy prices resulted in over half-million job losses in the industry. The last twenty years have seen major reductions of the workforce through mergers, divestments, and deployment of new advances in automation and data gathering systems. Education will play a key role in solving the serious labor shortage that already affects domestic oil and gas operations. The Permian Basin, with its high level of oilfield expertise and the availability of Midland College’s Petroleum Professional Development Center (PPDC) as a venue for continuing education, can help educate young talent and keep experienced professionals at the leading edge of technology. Short-term, companies will need to provide incentives to keep talented professionals working longer. Long-term, the PPDC’s role may include outreach programs to high school and college students; industry’s role may include summer jobs and intern programs to encourage students to pursue oil and gas careers. Ultimately, industry, government and academia will need to work together to make meaningful headway in assuring a viable workforce for the domestic oil and gas industry.