The U.S. oil and natural gas industry prides itself on its ability to provide reliable, safe, domestic energy for American consumers, while investing in and creating new opportunities for the U.S. economy. But above all else, the oil and gas industry is committed to ensuring the safety of the thousands of men and women who work to provide the energy we all rely upon each day.
As President Obama highlighted back in October, natural gas “is a big factor in drawing jobs back to our shores.” These jobs – all throughout the supply chain – are not only abundant, but also provide competitive salaries for American workers. According to the Energy Information Administration:
“Average wages of oil and natural gas production jobs were $108,000 in 2013, more than twice the average wage for all private sector industries. Since 2009, average wages from oil and natural gas production jobs have increased by 12%, compared with a 10% increase for all private sector industries.”
The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) also credits these jobs and associated salaries as being “a path out of poverty” for many workers and their families.
The oil and gas industry continues to improve upon its worker safety record, working with federal agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), to study workplace safety and improve protection for its workers. According to reporting from E&E News, “Energy firms and utilities have once again logged rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses lower than the national average, according to 2013 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
Check out EID’s new infographic — U.S. Oil and Gas Production: Safety and Support for American Families – to learn more about how the industry is supporting America’s workforce, on and off the job.