On Tuesday, Real Clear Energy posted an article about the changing energy sector workforce in Pennsylvania.

The article reports:

Every summer, I volunteer at a business camp for high school students in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. For nearly two decades, the parking lot outside our hotel has served as an unorthodox economic indicator.

In the early years, the lot was nearly empty when we returned each evening – you could always find an open parking spot near the door. Then the Marcellus Shale boom arrived. And by 2012, good luck finding a spot at all! White work trucks filled the lot and spilled into the neighboring shopping center. Many trucks carried license plates from Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

…The explanation was straightforward. The industry had grown faster than Pennsylvania’s workforce pipeline. Modern shale development required welders, electricians, equipment operators, technicians, engineers, and safety professionals. Pennsylvania had the resource and a proud energy heritage, but the modern shale workforce needed to expand tenfold, overnight. In too many energy-related occupations, the pool of trained workers simply was not large enough.

…For too long, we have spoken as though success has only one starting point: a four-year degree. But a paid apprenticeship can be every bit as ambitious, rigorous, and fulfilling as a bachelor’s degree. A power plant control room may also offer more stability than many entry-level cubicles, and probably requires fewer meetings that could have been emails.

The article concludes:

So, while there are still white trucks in hotel parking lots, I now see more Pennsylvania license plates than out-of-state plates during my annual week in Williamsport. But we must be thinking about preparing the next generation of Pennsylvania workers to power our future.

As we recognize Labor Day, it should be more than a retrospective celebration of those already on the job. It should also remind us of the need to prepare the next generation of workers that will uphold our high quality of life.

Pennsylvania’s energy opportunity should be powered by Pennsylvania workers. That starts by giving young people facts, hope, and an open invitation to help build the future.

Career paths do not come in one-size-fits-all. Apprenticeships can be as rewarding (financially and in other areas) as a four-year degree. Engineers and other scientists are needed, but you don’t call an electrical engineer when you need someone to work on the wiring in your house!