The Oil Drum

44 comments on And who is that, riding to the rescue?

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Heading Out on October 17, 2005 - 8:28pm

There are a number of jobs in the industry that require mainly a strong back, common sense and a willingness to work hard, and long hours. Unfortunately in the production end, it does take some time (as those in the industry will hopefully chip in and tell you) to take a neophyte graduated engineer and turn them into someone useful to the industry. I have heard that this can take as long as 7 years, but I think that this is very dependant on the individual. It also really depends on the job that they are asked and positioned to do. The opening level jobs generally allow that they can be productively contributing while still learning the ropes. And certainly the salaries that graduating seniors are making in Petroleum have opened a few eyes across a number of campuses. (Inducing some students to change disciplines even).

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Joseph Somsel on October 18, 2005 - 10:55am

We've the same problem in the nuclear power industry. I'm 54 and the young buck here at the reactor vendor I work at. We've retirees coming in half time to help out.

Why? The US has been coasting on its energy accomplishments the last 20 years or so. The companies have had less work to do as capital investment has dropped off or shifted to natural-gas fueled combined cycle gas turbines, often fueled with Canadian gas. Hence, the sharpees went to greener pastures, the troublesome and the weak where moved out. Nobody new wanted to join up with an outfit with little action and no prospects.

In fact, a shortage of experienced, trained people may be the limiting factor in nuclear ramp rates. Big salary increases, bonuses, and maybe tock options, well publisized, might bring in the kids but it will take 5 or 6 years to get a flow started. Hopefully, we'll get the kind of people who want to produce something useful for their country but expect and demand just compensation and decent careers.

One CEO of an oil company noted that America graduates 43,000 lawyers every year and only 430 petroleum engineers.

Indeed, "Dilbert" captures a lot of the real work of industry.

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step back on October 18, 2005 - 1:33pm

... might bring in the kids but it will take 5 or 6 years to get a flow started. Hopefully, we'll get the kind of people who want to produce something useful for their country but expect and demand just compensation ...

Sadly, me thinks you are exuberantly optimistic about the time line.

You and I are roughly the same age ... products of the Sputnik age.

When the Ruskies got into space first, our hubristic government went ballistic (pun intended). They launched a massive science, science, science campaign in all the schools.

It worked. 15 years after Kennedy's Moon-in-this-Decade speech, I graduated with an engineering degree. Probably you followed a similar trajectory (pun intended).

Realize that it took about 10-15 years, not 5-6 years. Kids do not just accidentally stumble into college level engineering programs. They have to be cultivated from early on.

Our current government is doing nothing to interest kids and their parents (it starts at home) to enter science & engineering programs. They are doing the exact opposite. They are "outsourcing".

But then again, the people running our government are "the smartest guys in the room".

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Joseph Somsel on October 18, 2005 - 3:52pm

You're right, Step Back. It will take getting to kids at an early age to fill the pipeline with prepared engineering and science students.

I used 5 to 6 years to START since the opportunities have to be apparent to the high school juniors and seniors to even start to apply to engineering schools then 4 or 5 years in college to enter the job market. There are few in high school who have the preparation to make that decision - but some. That's the earliest we can see a change in job seekers and then it builds from there. Of course, we might see a few stick to it who would otherwise change majors or some give up poli sci or "communications" for electrical engineering (OK, very, very few.)

Also agreed that our government and business "community" is looking to outsourcing instead of developing American kids. That will continue to depress salaries and compensation and hence economic motivation. Plus, the perks - Every Friday, they GIVE me a free donut.

For my three grown sons, I couldn't advocate engineering or science to them. Today, their average income is higher than mine - they are all salesmen.

I'd summarize this as an example of how the elites have failed our nation over the last decades. Overtolerance quickly turns to victimization.