NETL Regional Workforce Initiative hosts Future Energy and Manufacturing Jobs webinar

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Regional Workforce Initiative (RWFI) recently hosted a webinar on Future Energy and Manufacturing Jobs, which discussed gains and challenges in the fossil fuel workforce in the Appalachian region.

According to data presented during the webinar, employment in energy fields continued to increase in 2017, but employers are encountering challenges to finding qualified workers to fill open positions.

The event included subject matter experts from NETL, RAND Corporation and the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI). Approximately 100 registrants from more than 40 organizations participated in the webinar.

Dave Foster, a distinguished associate from EFI, presented data that showed that West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio were among the top 15 states for employment in traditional fossil energy technologies, including oil, natural gas, and coal. In West Virginia, the traditional energy sector expanded by nearly 13 percent, more than 7.5 times the national average.

Robert Bozick, senior sociologist for the RAND Corporation, discussed hiring difficulties facing the oil and natural gas industries. Colleges in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia have developed workforce development training, and employers provide on-the-job training. However, employers to find workers with basic skills like time management, speaking and writing as well as industry-specific skills, Bozick said.

Chris Nichols of NETL’s Energy Markets Analysis Team discussed the importance of energy technology and economic analysis in helping understand the economic impacts of energy technologies, ultimate energy generation and effective energy use.