WEA: DOI Report Obscures O&G Industry Job Creation, Economic Impact

A report published Monday on the U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) economic contributions obscures the role that the oil and gas industry's role in job creation and its economic impact, the Western Energy Alliance (WEA) said in a statement.

The DOI reported that the exploitation of oil, gas, coal, hydropower and other minerals on Federal lands in 2011 supported 1.5 million jobs and $275 million in economic activity. Overall, DOI supported more than 2 million jobs and approximately $385 billion in economic activity in 2011, according to the report The Department of the Interior's Economic Contributions, FY 2011.

According to an analysis by WEA, the oil and gas industry provides $238.5 billion and 1.3 million jobs, or 62 percent of the total economic value and 56 percent of the jobs that the DOI claims in its report.

"This is not value generated by the government – it's the result of private sector investment, technical innovation, and productive activity on public lands," said Kathleen Sgamma, vice president of government and public affairs, in a statement.

"By lumping all energy sources together in the executive summary and throughout the document, the true contribution of the oil and gas industry is not readily apparent," said Sgamma.

Karen Boman has more than 10 years of experience covering the upstream oil and gas sector. Email Karen at kboman@rigzone.com.

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