Jack Gerard’s keynote address on US STEM solutions

‘Today, the oil and natural gas industry supports 9.8 million US jobs or 8% of the US economy. And, according to a recent report by API and IHS Global, by 2030 there will be up to 1.3 million new job opportunities in the oil, natural gas and petrochemical industries. The report projects that, on our current course, almost 408 000 positions of the 1.3 million opportunities, roughly on third of the total expected growth, will go to African American and Hispanic workers. Women are estimated to fill upwards of 185 000 of these jobs.

‘Further, the STEM workforce challenge is compounded by the fact that a significant number of workers will be needed to fill existing jobs created by the crew change, which is a 7 – 10 year period when roughly half of the industry’s current technical personnel will retire.

‘Bottom line, we need to increase the number of STEM graduates to ensure that we have a workforce capable of continuing America’s 21st century energy renaissance.’

Minority employment and STEM

‘The report’s projections for women and minority positions are based on the status quo, if we do not increase the diversity of our Science, Technology, Engineering and math student body.’

‘Specifically, in the energy sector, the need to improve minority educational attainment in STEM subjects will be vital to our nation taking full advantage of its enormous energy resources. Given what we know from our and others’ research, the oil and natural gas industry’s fundamental recommendation is as straightforward as it is simple: Make the improvement of women and minorities’ preparation in STEM related disciplines a national priority.’

‘The oil and natural gas industry continues to lead the change we seek by engaging a broad range of stakeholders, including the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trade union, the US Department of Energy, leaders in vocational education and universities and, four year and community colleges through an eight city tour that highlights the career opportunities in the oil and natural gas industry.’

‘To be clear, STEM underachievement is not limited to any one demographic group or region of the country. Broadly, in the past decade or so, this nation has slipped relative to other developed nations when it comes to producing college graduates with degrees in science and engineering. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the US ranks 27th in developed nations in the proportion of college students receiving undergraduate degrees in science or engineering.

‘That’s just one more data point that should spur us on to attaining greater STEM educational achievement for women and minorities. If we keep working together we can put into place policies that promote STEM education from grade school to graduate school, and there is little doubt that this country will continue to lead the world in energy production.’

Future plans

‘Future generations are counting on us to implement policies that promote educational achievement, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math because is till largely be those subjects that determine who will benefit most in the 21st century. And while the future belongs to our children and grandchildren, their future depends on us.

‘It depends on all of us putting into place policies that ensure that tomorrow’s workforce is ready and able to meet whatever challenges await them. In that regard, API’s Minority and Female employment opportunity report makes two things clear:

‘First, that success will mean not just working with schools at all levels to ensure greater participation and completion of women and minorities in STEM related subjects, but we must ensure that educators and counsellors convey the significant job opportunities that exist in the oil and natural gas industry to their students.

‘And second that the oil and natural gas industry will continue to be a job creation leader for years to come.

‘But our position as a global energy leader is not a given. To remain a global energy leader we have to listen and to learn from each other to ensure that the next generation of petroleum, civil and mechanical engineers and other science, technology, engineering and math undergraduate and graduate students are as diverse as our nation.

‘If we keep doing that, future generations of Americans will only know their country as a global energy leader.’

Adapted from speech by Claira Lloyd

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