Workforce Wayne

The Marcellus Shale natural gas play is poised to dramatically change the face of Northeastern Pennsylvania in a comprehensive way not seen in recent generations since the start of extraction of Anthracite coal in the 1900’s. The Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania is 160-250 feet thick and covers 95,000 square miles. In comparison, the Barnett Shale play in Texas covers 5,000 square miles and has produced 100,000 jobs. The green jobs impact from Marcellus Shale is long-term and critical to the region and we need to be prepared now.

Wayne County Oil and Gas Taskforce

The Wayne County Oil and Gas Taskforce formed in late 2009 to identify the key issues, research facts, information and review and provide public education regarding the economic, environmental, and community impacts of oil and gas exploration of the Marcellus Shale in Wayne County. The Taskforce has seven active Subcommittees including: Government; Outreach; Environment; Economic Development; Workforce; Planning; and Public Safety. Ed Coar, Wayne County Director of Planning, is the Taskforce chairperson. Link to the taskforce here for more information.

Workforce Subcommittee

Workforce Wayne chairs the Workforce Subcommittee of the Wayne County Oil and Gas Taskforce. The mission of the Workforce Subcommitee is to plan for workforce development related to Wayne County Marcellus Shale activity, including kindergarten through high school programming, as well as post-secondary training for students and adult workers. The Workforce Subcommittee meets on the 3rd Friday of every other month, 8-9am at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Community Room, 32 Commercial St, Honesdale, PA 18431. The 2010 meetings are Feb 19, April 16, June 18, Aug 20, Oct 15 and Dec 17.

Workforce Information

Employment related to the natural gas extraction covers pre-drilling (geology studies, permitting, and staking the well), drilling & completion, and post-drilling (natural gas production, reclamation). Pipeline construction also spans the pre-drilling and drilling phases; length of time depends of the length needed. All of these phases cover a 20-30 year period. In the 12-county area, some drilling has already begun, but is expected to rise dramatically in the next 2-3 years. Best estimates are 2,000-3,000 horizontally dug wells will be seen in Pennsylvania.

The Marcellus Shale Education and Training Center report (2009) notes that there are 400 jobs in 150 occupations needed for a single well to be drilled, though these jobs are temporary to the drilling phase (less than 6 months typically). However, during post-drilling when natural gas is being produced, there is just under one-quarter of a permanent, full-time equivalent position associated with each well, and these jobs compound each year as more wells are drilled.

Resources for more information:

• Penn State University Cooperative Extension (www.naturalgas.extension.psu.edu)

Marcellus shale has the potential to affect many parts of Pennsylvania. This Web site is your official entry point for Penn State Cooperative Extension's educational and research materials about Marcellus shale, natural gas, and how it may affect the Commonwealth. Since 2001, we have been actively helping citizens, landowners, businesses, local governments, and others understand the opportunities and challenges arising from Marcellus shale. Let us help you, too.

• Marcellus Shale Education and Training Center (www.pct.edu/msetc)

Over the past few months, the MSETC has been meeting with Industry, Education, Government, and Regulatory players to work together to examine the expanding workforce of the natural gas industry and to determine the education and training needs required to support this expanding workforce.  The Marcellus Shale Workforce Needs Assessment is an outcome of these meetings. Summer 2009 Workforce Needs Assessment Study.

•  MSETC report direct links here:
  
  • Summer 2009 Marcellus Shale Workforce Needs Assessment
  • Marcellus Shale Workforce Needs Assessment Review

•  Marcellus Shale Committee (www.pamarcellus.com)
  

Founded in 2008, the Marcellus Shale Committee is an organization committed to the responsible development of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale geological formation in Pennsylvania and the enhancement of the Commonwealth's economy that can be realized by this clean-burning energy source.

The members of the committee bring the strength of the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association and the Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania together to address concerns with regulators, government officials and the people of the Commonwealth about all aspects of drilling and extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation.

Local Training

• Downhill Pipe Welding at Lackawanna CTC: 7/7/10-9/1/10
• Basic Cutting and Welding for Pressure Pipelines and Pipe Welding at Johnson College: Summer/Fall 2010. Also, is Natural Gas Industry Candidate Survey here: Is the natural gas industry right for you?
• Lackawanna College’s Natural Gas Technology degree: The two-year program leads to an associate in applied science degree. In addition, the college is offering a one-year certificate program.
  

In the News

• 2/23/10: NPR radio story "Natural Gas as a Climate Fix Sparks Friction" on the Sierra Club's position regarding natural gas as the cleanest hydrocarbon and an alternative to coal.
• 2/24/10: Abington Journal article on new local training programs involving the gas industry in north central and northeast Pennsylvania.
• 5/5/10: The Wayne Independent article "$294,689 Grant to Fund Marcellus Shale Job Training".
• 6/1/10: The Times-Tribune article on Luzerne County Community College planning for safety training for natural gas work.
• 6/2/10: The Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal article "Northern Tier Gas Drillers Still an under-served market".  The article gives insight as to economic demands and workforce issues.