Describing the U.S. oil and gas extraction workforce with public data

This article serves as a primer for researchers interested in estimating the size, characteristics, dynamics, and distribution of the oil and gas extraction (OGE) workforce using public data. The OGE workforce changes with shifts in energy markets and technology, and accurate OGE workforce estimates are important for assessing workforce needs, understanding injury and illness patterns, and measuring impacts of energy production on local economies. This article provides contextual information about the industry's structure, establishment types, and corresponding federal classification codes and presents descriptive workforce statistics from several sources, with emphasis on the differences between lead employers, who coordinate production, and specialized employers, who support and contract with the lead employers. Finally, this article also discusses the relationships between industry employer and workforce characteristics and observed variation in injury and illness rates.