While the unprecedented growth of the natural gas industry due to hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, has undoubtedly spurred employment in states such as Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump’s claim that the Keystone State hosts half a million fracking jobs does appear to be significantly inflated.
To decipher the actual figures, it’s important to understand what comprises fracking-related jobs. These positions aren’t solely those of individuals working directly on drilling sites. Jobs related to fracking also encompass others in supporting industries- from truckers transporting supplies to engineers planning drills, to the service industry workers serving towns with increased populations because of fracking activities.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the entirety of the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector in Pennsylvania employed about 26,000 people as of September 2020. This sector includes coal mining and natural gas extraction, which means that fracking-related jobs would be a subset of the aforementioned estimate. State data from Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry pin the number of direct jobs in the oil and gas industry closer to 20,000.
Systematic research from the Pennsylvania State University suggests a broader figure. Their February 2020 report stated that, as of 2016, the natural gas industry was supporting 322,600 jobs – a categorization that includes indirect and induced employment. Even this expansive assessment, which includes non-extraction jobs, is a far cry from Trump’s 500,000-job claim.
Furthermore, Trump’s assertion assumes that all these jobs would disappear if fracking were banned, a scenario that many industry and economic experts do not support. These jobs wouldn’t evaporate overnight. Transition policies, other sources of renewable energy, and job retraining initiatives are all facets of potential changes to energy policy that could mitigate job losses in affected sectors.
It’s important as well to factor in economic diversification, which has been a major factor in Pennsylvania. While the shale gas industry has been a crucial component of the economy, it is not the sole driver. Pennsylvania has been progressively diversifying its portfolio, investing in other areas such as renewables, manufacturing, and technology, creating further job opportunities.
Putting the figures into context, current data does not reach the echelons of 500,000 fracking jobs claimed by Trump. While fracking does provide an essential source of employment within Pennsylvania, it’s vital to offer a balanced, fact-based snapshot of the exact extent of its economic contribution.
The Pennsylvania natural gas industry and fracking, in particular, undoubtedly holds a significant place in the larger American energy sector. Yet, the claim of 500,000 fracking jobs in Pennsylvania alone appears to be more of an overestimation rather than an accurate depiction of the state’s employment landscape. Accurate reporting and realistic projection of figures are crucial when discussing the impacts and future of the industry.
