Long-term employment prospects are positive throughout North Dakota and particularly in Region 1, which includes Williams County.
The North Dakota Employment Service’s Labor Market Information Center conducted statewide and regional long-term employment projections through 2031. The results of 2023 cover more than 700 professions.
Most of the job growth predicted for ND over the next decade is in health care, construction, and quarrying, transporting, and moving materials.
“The career options are endless and ever-changing,” said Paula Lankford, director of the ND Workforce Center. “My recommendation to everyone is to constantly look for ways to develop your skills and expand your knowledge base.”
The report offers good news for young people because the majority of demand, according to the ND Labor Market Information Center, is for high school graduates with little or no experience. Unfortunately, this sometimes results in lower wages, except in the oil and gas industry.
As one Williston State College (WSC) instructor noted, it’s important for high school graduates who want rewarding, long-term careers to consider expanding their training and technical knowledge to avoid future obsolescence.
Alexey Kovalev, an instructor in petroleum technology and innovation at WSC, said people should be careful not to confuse high-volume jobs with those that require a high degree of technical expertise.
“The jobs and the types of jobs are many and many,” Kovalev said, referring to the current abundance of jobs in the oil and gas industry and forecasts for future growth.
“A lot of jobs don’t require education,” he said.
Specific to the oil and gas industry jobs vital to Williams County, Kovalev warned that the region’s abundance of well-paying jobs doesn’t always translate into demand for people with technical skills and broad knowledge. Of the industry.
“It makes sense that the jobs are plentiful,” he said of the oil and gas industry. “Prices are where they need to be.”
Her advice to high school students, however, is to consider long-term plans and not just jump on the first high-paying job that comes your way.
“It all depends on what you want to do,” Kovalev said. “If you want to be an engineer, you need training and a school. Here at [WSC] we offer technology programs. Since we are in the Bakken, there is a lot of oil. There’s a demand for that.”
He added that WSC Petroleum Technology courses prepare students for a broad coverage of technical programs so they have the opportunity to work in a variety of industries instead of just oil and gas drilling.
“We try to give students the skills they need to apply those skills to other industries,” he said.
Automation, for example, is not only applicable to future jobs in the oil industry, but covers a wide range of vocations, including agriculture, computing, and food processing.
Kovalev advised young people to get a full education.
“There is a temptation to jump into the [oil and gas] industry right out of high school,” he said. “I would say that you have to at least study in the field of technology to give yourself options. Production wells and production equipment need to be maintained…but they will become more sophisticated.
“Automation,” he continued, “is big in the oil industry.”
Lankford agreed. She said it’s important for young people to consider all options, build professional relationships that can open doors, and base their career choices on labor market projections as well as personal interests.
“Connect with others and get involved in groups that enhance your personal development,” she said. “Pay attention to ever-changing job market information to help you make informed decisions about your education and career path.”
Lankford continued, “Pursue your passions while you do these things, and you will thrive in this world of incredible opportunity.”
According to the report, the top five jobs – in terms of projected growth from 2023 to 2031 – are:
1. Heavy truck and semi-trailer driver, 2,135 (+20.63%)
2. Nursing aides and home health aides, 1,537 (+22.25%)
3. General and operations managers, 1,526 (+15.36%)
4. Service unit operators: oil and gas, 1,425 (+55.3%)
5. Registered nurses, 1,353 (+11.27%)
Additionally, the ND Labor Market Information Center report lists the demand for Oil and Gas Roustabouts as 8th in terms of job growth, with a forecast of 1,149 job vacancies, an increase of almost 60%.
Lankford noted that job postings for December 2022 were dominated by opportunities in the healthcare and transport sectors. The Williston-based workforce expert said the Region 1 occupations that are in demand “right now” are:
4. Building/Extracting
Although roustabouts can earn a lot of money, labor-intensive positions are considered “helpers” and require no schooling, according to Kovalev.
He warned high school graduates who are tempted to become oil thugs to consider the long-term impact on their careers if they give up pursuing higher education.
“Sometimes it’s driven by family,” Kovalev said. “They want to work in the oil field.”
Although he was quick to preface that there’s nothing wrong with becoming a rogue straight out of high school, Kovalev said he encourages young people to consider pursuing at least a high school education. community college level to give themselves career options down the road.
The report lists oil and gas industry jobs in the top five that are expected to increase over the next decade in terms of percentage increase. They are:
2. Rotary Drill Operators: Oil & Gas, +56.09%
3. Service unit operators: oil and gas, +55.3%
4. Rig Operators: Oil & Gas, +54.49%
5. Nurse Practitioners, +50.70%
According to projections, future job growth projections for farmers are less promising than for the oil and gas industry and healthcare workers.
The state report projects that 2,931 jobs will be available in agriculture, fishing and forestry between 2021 and 2031, compared to 27,763 jobs in administrative and clerical support during the same period.
Although the report lists the number of jobs for farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers in the top five “transfer openings” (attrition), these opportunities are expected to decline by more than 8% by 2031.
For Region 1, there is good news. The report shows Region 1, which includes Williams County, has the highest overall job growth between 2021 and 2031.
According to the report, Region 1 (including Williams County) is expected to lead the state in percentage job growth, averaging 46,212 jobs (+29.66%) across all industries in 2031.
The average salary in 2021 in Region 1 was $73,516, according to the report.
This contrasts with projected oil and gas extraction jobs for Region 1, which are expected to increase nearly 68% by 2031. The report estimated average salaries for oil and gas extraction jobs in Region 1 at $107,785 in 2021.
Conclusion for job seekers in Region 1 over the next decade: The oil and gas industry pays well and requires less education than many other professions. However, oil and gas remains a volatile industry that rises and falls with market prices.
The labor market for oil and gas workers can go from boom to bust without much warning, leaving those without extensive training or technical experience to question their decision to give up a job. university education directly after high school in favor of well-paid work in the fields throughout the Bakken region.