Will Trump Victory Affect Oil and Gas Hiring in the USA?

Will Trump Victory Affect Oil and Gas Hiring in the USA?
Rigzone talks to several recruitment experts.
Image by Ecleposs via iStock

The recent election of Donald Trump is poised to significantly impact hiring within the U.S. oil and gas sector.

That’s what Brian Binke, the President and CEO of Michigan based the Birmingham Group, an affiliate of Sanford Rose Associates, told Rigzone when asked if the U.S. election outcome will affect oil and gas hiring in the country.

“Trump’s commitment to expanding domestic energy production through increased drilling and fracking is expected to create numerous job opportunities in exploration, production, and related services,” Binke said.

“Industry analysts anticipate that deregulation under the new administration will further stimulate employment growth in this sector,” he added.

Binke also warned, however, that “it’s important to recognize that while federal policies can influence the energy sector, market dynamics, technological advancements, and global events also play crucial roles in shaping industry trends and employment opportunities”.

Dave Mount, the President of Louisiana based OneSource Professional Search, outlined to Rigzone that Trump’s win will initially be more positive for oil and gas hiring.

“A philosophy of less onerous/more predictable regulatory environment and a more positive view on oil and gas as an economic driver, and U.S. energy independence, favors oil and gas,” Mount said.

The OneSource Professional Search President also noted, however, that increased drilling via a Trump victory may suppress oil prices from increased supply.

“[The] previous Trump administration considered lower oil/gas prices good for the overall economy and did not overtly protect downside commodity price moves in oil and gas,” he highlighted.

“Ultimately, the combination of higher and somewhat stable commodity prices and a predictable regulatory regime will determine the profitability of oil and gas projects, which drives demand for new jobs,” he added.

Mount outlined to Rigzone that a Kamala Harris victory would have “likely continue[d] or perhaps accelerate[d] climate change regulation”, which he warned would “suppress long term investment in oil and gas exploration”.

Offering his view, Clark Conine, President and Recruiting Consultant at Texas based Energy Search Associates, outlined to Rigzone that “less regulation” from Trump’s win will “help investment”.

Rigzone also asked Gladney Darroh - an energy search specialist with 47 years of experience who developed and coaches the interview methodology Winning the Offer, which earned him the ranking of #1 technical and professional recruiter in Houston for 17 consecutive years by HAAPC - if the U.S. election outcome will affect oil and gas hiring in the United States.

Answering the question, Darroh said “the election itself won’t affect oil and gas hiring” in the country. 

“The reason is because it’s an administration’s policies and practices that are actually implemented and pursued that will affect hiring, not the rhetoric of campaigns,” the founding partner and president of Texas based Piper-Morgan Associates Personnel Consultants added.

“The oil and gas industry will adjust hiring to the reality of the next four years,” he continued.

In his response, Darroh outlined that he expects “impact will be to the upside” with Trump’s election victory.

According to the Texas Producers and Royalty Owners Association’s (TIPRO) 2024 state of energy report, which was released earlier this year, the U.S. oil and gas industry employed 2,043,855 professionals in 2023. The report highlighted that this figure represented a net increase of 56,373 direct jobs compared to 2022, “subject to revisions”.

“When incorporating direct, indirect, and induced multipliers for employment at the national level, the industry supported more than 24 million jobs last year,” the report noted.

“There were 385,662 direct U.S. upstream sector jobs in 2023, a net increase of 23,709 jobs compared to 2022,” it added.

The U.S. election took place on November 5. Trump won this election with 312 electoral votes to Kamala Harris’ 226, RealClearPolitics and 270towin, which both describe themselves as non-partisan, show. The total number of electoral votes is 538, with a minimum of 270 needed for a majority, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website outlines.

To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com


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Andreas Exarheas
Editor | Rigzone