Pennsylvania: Not all Marcellus Shale jobs going to local residents, study indicates
Sunday, September 13, 2015
A new study by Penn State University economist Tim Kelsey shows that not as many Marcellus Shale jobs are going to local residents as once thought. In fact, only about half of jobs associated with the Marcellus Shale go to local residents.
Ellwood City Ledger reports that Kelsey used Department of Revenue tax data from 2002 to 2011 to determine where shale workers lived. Kelsey found that in the average county, the aggregate employment of local residents increased between 7,346 and 9,602 jobs. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that between 18,761 and 20,385 jobs were going to local residents in the average county.
Some of the Marcellus jobs are taken by residents who commute from non-shale counties. Other jobs go to individuals from out of state, like Texas and Oklahoma.
Via: Ellwood City Ledger > Study: Marcellus shale industry has ‘modest impact’ on creating local jobs
Related:
- Report: Ohio shale jobs are important part of state’s employment Sept. 25, 2014
- Shale Gas Job Creation Number May be Too High Nov. 25, 2013
- Local Workers Landing Shale Gas Jobs< March 13, 2013
- Marcellus and Utica shale gas may bring fewer jobs than thought Dec. 26, 2011
- Marcellus Shale boom adds less jobs than originally forecasted June 22, 2011
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.