Behind the 10.8 Million Stat: The People of American Oil and Natural Gas

Mark Green
Posted May 17, 2023
Nearly 11 million American jobs and almost $2 trillion in GDP – all supported by American oil and natural gas. By any measure, the topline numbers in PwC’s new analysis of the economic benefits provided by oil and natural gas are huge.
The report, based on the most recent available government data, reflects a strong, dynamic industrial sector whose value to America goes beyond the energy it provides to virtually every other part of the economy, as well as Americans’ daily lives.
Yet, the PwC report is a simple snapshot when compared to the broad array of contributions the 10.8 million Americans who work in jobs supported by our industry provide for their families, communities and the nation.
Millions of them work directly for oil and natural gas companies, and millions more are employed throughout the industry supply chain (indirect jobs) that is supported by oil and natural gas companies’ operating and capital spending. Our beneficial economic impact also includes Americans throughout the economy whose jobs are supported when direct and indirect employees spend their paychecks.
We’ve met some of these Americans in recent years. Broadly speaking, they’re your friends and neighbors. They care about the communities where they live, work and raise their families. They’re proud of the professionalism they bring to their jobs and are aware that their work is critically important to American prosperity and security.
The PwC analysis shows a sector with outsized impacts in producing states. In Oklahoma, for example, oil and natural gas support 15.3% of state employment and 28.6% of state GDP. In the Sooner State and other states, it’s not inaccurate to say that many of the people you meet either work for oil and natural gas or know someone who does.
Some things we can observe about this hardworking American cohort:
They want to do right by their fellow Americans
In this video, people in Midland, Texas, talked recently about the sense of proactiveness in doing their jobs well – that companies do not necessarily wait for a government regulation to enhance safe operations, to protect the environment and to be more efficient. One Midlander says:
“The industry … wants to do what is right by this community and everything that is on top of the glorious rock that produces the wealth of energy. It is industry leaders, it is academics, it is community members coming together and noting, ‘OK, is there an issue here? How do we all do better? How do we work together? And how do we ensure that innovation is always in the forefront to solving any burden that we may have?’”
They’re up to challenges and opportunities
We say this all the time: Oil and natural gas is an industry made up of problem-solvers. You have to be because the discovery, production and transportation of oil and natural gas has occurred by meeting all kinds of challenges. Overcoming them on a daily basis requires curiosity, patience, determination, perseverance and a mindset that relishes finding breakthrough solutions.
A few years ago we spoke with Devon petroleum geophysicist Alex Biholar about technologies that allow companies to pinpoint the best opportunities to find oil and natural gas – to literally see through rock formations to discover these reservoirs. Those technologies and others allow our industry to increase efficiency, saving time and money and helping minimize our footprint on the surface. More from Alex:
“These projects become your baby. You work tirelessly to identify the best locations to drill. And as they produce and even break records in production as we recently did in southeastern New Mexico, the feeling is indescribable. It’s beyond rewarding to know that we’re a part of the work that’s powering the world.”
They are motivated
A number of the oil and natural gas people we’ve met over the years understand that what they’re doing makes a difference across the world – because access to affordable, reliable energy is essential to human advancement of any kind. Before she retired from ConocoPhillips, Karen Work managed the company’s water-recycling project in a section of the Permian oilfield, which is critically important to properly handling water that was produced during oil and natural gas operations. Karen said then:
“We are all in this together. The fact that we are willing to share our experience is a tremendous example of industry collaboration. How can this not be exciting? We are solving a groundbreaking challenge.”
We got a similar vibe from Cheniere Energy’s Tyler Pedersen, who supervised pipeline and midstream reliability services for the company:
“We’re able to provide a dependable, affordable fuel source. In my opinion, the one thing that sets our industry apart is the dependability that you can expect from the United States and its energy. … We are very lucky to live in a politically and economically stable country that is rich in resources, like natural gas. Not everyone does. I’m honestly proud to be part of an industry that’s having a global impact – making the world a more secure and cleaner place to live.”
They care about their communities
When we met Jennifer Smith, she was managing Enbridge’s community engagement in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Today, she’s an area manager for the company in Arkansas. She told us then:
“People don’t realize how much we rely on these products. We enjoy a nice quality of life here in the U.S., and the natural gas and oil industry is an important reason why. When I talk to people about the benefits of natural gas and oil, I always love to see that lightbulb turn on when they realize the role our industry plays in supporting that quality of life. … I am proud to be a part of these communities, and I am proud of Enbridge, because I know how important our work is for this country, and I see the passion of the people operating our pipelines.”
These are just a few of the people who are part of the 10.8 million strong, doing their part to keep America in the lead on energy production and environmental progress.
API President and CEO Mike Sommers:
“From Pennsylvania to California, America’s natural gas and oil workforce is the backbone of communities, supporting nearly 11 million careers throughout the energy supply chain. America’s economic outlook is brighter when we are leading the world in energy production and this analysis serves as a reminder that we need policies and regulations that encourage investment and enable development.”
About The Author
Mark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.