Do Texans have enough work?
by Rebecca How
Do Texans have enough work? This question has plagued me for months. We hear statistics about how many jobs are going out of the country and we are seeing a rise in unemployment – so why would anyone think we need workers? Let’s take a step back and look at our state.
Job Expansion
Texas’ total employment is projected to grow by 20 percent by 2014.
Industry |
Projected Increase |
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing |
20% |
Automotive repair and maintenance |
17% |
Oil and gas extraction |
15% |
Machinery manufacturing |
14% |
Steel product manufacturing |
14% |
Plastics product manufacturing |
10% |
| Source: Texas Workforce Commission. |
Manufacturing jobs earn workers, with a high school education and some post-secondary training, about $47,000 annually, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Welding, a crucially understaffed occupation, can earn skilled workers more than $30,000 annually.
In West Texas, there’s tremendous demand for welders in the oil fields,” Diane Rath, formerly of the Texas Workforce Commission says. “In Southeast Texas, there’s a $15 billion capital investment occurring, mostly by oil refineries, and they estimate they’re going to need 13,000-15,000 skilled workers, many in construction and many in oil, with very high wages and great benefits packages.”
In the DFW Metroplex, the petroleum industry is booming. As of 9/30/08, Congress lifted the ban on new offshore oil and natural gas exploration in the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The average age of a worker in this industry is 51. When these workers retire, where are we going to find workers? The answer is major universities like the University of Texas Austin, SMU, Texas Tech and the University of Oklahoma. All of these schools are ramping up their petroleum programs.
What can teachers do now to not only stem the tide of negativity toward the job market, but also create an atmosphere of excitement about the future job market? We can begin introducing these new jobs in growing fields to our students. Incorporate these jobs into classroom discussions. Cut out newspaper articles dealing with these industries and highlight one job per month on a bulletin board. You can keep up with online job postings for these areas and post them as a reference for students. Allow students to take each of the following careers involved in the petroleum industries and hone their internet skills by researching them. Let’s continue to be strong in preparing our students to be progressive, dedicated workers.
- Geoscientists study the composition, structure and physical aspects of the earth to predict where to find oil and natural deposits
- Petroleum engineers work with geoscientists to understand geologic formations and properties and then design equipment and processes to achieve the maximum profitable recovery of oil and gas.
- Mechanical engineers research, develop, design, manufacture and test tools, engines, machines and other mechanical devices used throughout the industry.
- Chemical engineers bridge science and manufacturing by applying the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals.
- Industrial engineers focus on management, organizational methods and technology.
- Market analysts gauge supply, demand and pricing trends and evaluate possible legislation.
- Land men deal with acquisition, maintenance development and negotiations of the property rights used in the search for and production of natural resources.
- Petroleum attorneys work with state, federal and international regulations
- Petroleum accountants prepare the required tax and investor documents. The complexities of this industry require knowledge beyond new accounting graduates.
Contact author, Rebecca How at r.how@unt.edu
