GeoCareer Futures: Myriad Opportunities, Complex Pathways Christopher M. Keane American Geological Institute 11 January 2007

Where we are today… ~50% of highest degree earners in geoscience do NOT work as a geoscientist ~50% of people working as geoscientists do NOT have their highest degree in geosciences

US Geoscience Employment 1986 Academic 7% Government 12% Petroleum 50% Mining 9% Environmental 7% Retired/Unemployed 10% Other 5% AGI

US Geoscience Employment 1993 Petroleum 34% Mining 7% Environment 12% Government 12% Retired/Unemployed 23% Academic 11% NSF

US Geoscience Employment 2000 Petroleum 30% Mining 8% Environmental 14% Government 16% Academia 20% Unemployed/Retired 6% Other 6% AGI

US Geoscience Employment 2005 Oil 43% Mining 12% Other Services 1% Environmental 8% Exec. Management 1% Academia 17% Government 18% BLS

Student Attitudes and Careers % 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% State/Local Federal Environmental Mining Petroleum Academia K-12 High Tech General Business Continue Education Other Outside of Geoscience Intention Rate AGI

Student Interest vs. Opportunity Hostility towards private sector –Source of bulk of opportunities “Environmental Awareness” –Student interest declines precipitously Preference for government –Little to no hiring growth 29% of students intend to look at “non- traditional” careers

Is there a regional difference? Petroleum –Sharply lower in the NE (27%) –Higher in Mid West (41%) High tech –Sharply higher in NE & West (10%) Business –Sharply higher in the NE (12%) Outside geosciences –Much higher in the NE (22%)

Petroleum Geoscientist Demand Geologists, Geophysicists, and Engineers Year Petroleum Geoscientists (Thousands) New Entries (3% Growth) Current Workforce Total Workforce Demand

The Enrollment Rollercoaster Majors Undergraduate Graduate

Newly Minted Geoscientists B.S. M.S. Ph.D.

Female Geoscience Enrollment and Degrees Year Percent Female Enrolled Graduated

Race and Gender – the future? Gender –Females now dominate at the university –Geoscience second at attracting women –Industry discontinuing female preferences Race –Minorities tend not to move for college –Few geo programs near minority areas –Lack of cultural continuity

Mean Salaries 2005 Geologists –Petroleum$107K –Mining $69K –Finance $84K –Consulting $68K –Academia $58K –Government Federal $86K State $51K Local $62K Hydrologists –Consulting $65K –Academia $57K –Government Federal $75K State $52K Local $63K BLS

Common Employer Concerns Poor student preparation –Little or poor quality field experience –Too much specialization (e.g. Env. Companies what geologists, not environmental science majors) Work ethic challenges –Little sense of professionalism –US new hire parochialism Business sense –What business sense?

Employer Perspectives – Oil and Gas The Labor Market –International workforce in “big oil” –Increased role of small independents The Solution –“Big Oil” will pay for what they need –Small independents try to hire away –Increased role of in-country staff The Sleepless Night Points –50% of oil/gas geoscientists in 10 years are not currently employed –Where will senior management come from?

Employer Perspectives – Mining The Labor Market –Very international workforce –Need to import labor –Poor capitalization dilemma The Solution –Closer cooperation with universities –Targeted cross-training of engineers The Sleepless Night Points –Whole subdisciplines are nearly extinct (e.g. ventilation) –Balancing of exploration with development –Labor pricing pressures

Employer Perspectives – Environmental The Labor Market –Local offices, local licensure requirements –Labor supply is far below needs –Challenge of bringing new hires up in billable hours The Solution –Hiring and promoting The Sleepless Night Points –Little industry coordination –Marginal field experience of new hires

Employer Perspectives – Others The Labor Market –Little hiring in academia and government –Budget constraints make replacement unlikely The Solution –Extended careers and postdocs The Sleepless Night Points –Fear the budget at all levels

The Future Geologists –8.3% growth –V. low unemployment, high earnings –MS remains the optimal degree Hydrologists –31.6% growth –V. low unemployment, high earnings –MS remains the optimal degree Geo Engineering –1.5% decrease –V. low unemployment, high earnings –BS remains optimal degree BLS

The Challenges Labor shortage is not unique Budget shortages are not unique Determining why we want majors –Meet society’s needs –Framework for leadership Not losing the opportunities –K-12 is starting to rebound –Jobs are available –Bridging the gap from K-12 to major

Need Some New Thinking Attrition Math –340,000 Intro Geo Students –6,000 New Geo Majors Per Year –2,700 New Geo BS Degrees Per Year Internal Competition –Are we fighting for other STEM students? –Are other STEM fields friends or enemies? How to meet needs in a Uni. Environment –Divergent university and professional demands