This morning the Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages for the third quarter of 2012. This means we can expect shortly a new version of Marcellus Fast Facts for Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. While we wait for that new release, here is a quick preview of what the new data say.
This morning the Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages for the third quarter of 2012. This means we can expect shortly a new version of Marcellus Fast Facts for Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. While we wait for that new release, here is a quick preview of what the new data say.
Please note the numbers summarized below are for private-sector employers only and, thus, are not strictly comparable to Labor and Industry job counts that include both private- and public-sector workers in oil and gas extraction-related industries.
Between the third quarter of 2011 and 2012, employment related to oil and gas extraction in Pennsylvania increased by 2,766 jobs, an increase of 10% (see Table 1). That figure lagged the national increase of 15% (92,801 jobs) over the same period. It’s also down from the previous year (2010-Q3 to 2011-Q3) when employment increased by 9,870 jobs, or 55%.
The slowdown in job creation in this sector is not a great surprise. Fewer new wells were drilled in 2012 than in 2011 thanks to low natural gas prices.
