The COVID-19 pandemic hit all facets of the economy with sectors cutting jobs because of the economic fallout. The energy sector wasn't immune to the effect, even though the industry was adding more jobs than any other prior to the crisis—thanks, in part to the uptick in retiring baby boomers and a dearth ofℱ available tal🅘ent to fill the gaps.

Job growth in this industry grew in 2021 at a pace of 4% from the previous year, adding more than 300,000 jobs. But the applicant pool remains fairly tight and competition among energy companies is making hiring difficult. Oil companies continue to look for new 𒉰hires, even recruiting from colleg🌳e campuses. The following are just four of the most common degrees they

1. Petroleum Engineering

When prospective students contemplate earning degrees to propel them into the oil and gas business, a petroleum engineering major is the first consideration for many. This is not surprising when 🦹the word petroleum is included in the description of the degree.

Many petroleum engineers collaborate with geoscientists and other engineers to make sense of the geologic formations of rock that contain oil and gas. They are experts in designing drilling equipment, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:drilling methods, operations, and drilling plans.

Aspiring petroleum engineers should have high proficiency in math, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. The s🎃ciences, including biology, chemistry, and physics, are equally important for those𓃲 who want to graduate with this degree.

The top universities that offer petroleum engineering degrees are the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Colorado School of Mines, Stanford University, the University of Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania State University.

2. Petroleum Geology

Petroleum geologists determine where to drill for oil by studying the structure of rocks and minerals located beneath the surface of the Earth. Professionals conduct field studies and laboratory tests and often prepare written reports for their companies.

Demand for graduates in this field increased as the oil and gas fracking business grew in the U.S., requiring employees with the technical skills to master horizontal drilling and other new methodologies.

California Institute of Technology and the University of Colorado at Boulder offer top degrees in this field of study in the United States.

3. Chemical Engineering

The oil business is divided into downstream and upstream components. Upstream includes exploration and production, while the downstream needs chemic🉐al engineers to analyze chemical processes occurring in the oil refining end of the cycle.

澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Oil refining is often stigmatized as the dirty pedestrian side of the oil business. However, the salaries for chemical engineers within the industry are relatively competitive with petroleum engineers and geologists. The median annual salary for professionals in this field in 2021 was $105,550.

Some of the top schools in this field were MIT, California Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and the University of California.

4. Mechanical Engineering

The mechanical engineering aspect of the oil and gas business often centers on large project design and implementation. This may include the construction of refineries,𒆙 pipelines, and offshore oil platforms.

Specific skills required include knowledge of fluid dynamics, thermal technology, 3-D modeling, and complex construction methodologies. The work often occurs in the field in a variety of locales.

MIT, Stanford, California Institute of Technology, and the University of California are among the top schools in the country for mechanical engineering. Some universities, such as Purdue University, offer five or six-year programs that award a student a bachelor's and master's degrees.

Technical Expertise Is Key

In addition to these top degrees, oil companies hire graduates with specialties in other fields, including civil engineering, mathematics, and physics. For example, Canada's Northern Alberta Institute of Technology offers a two-year petroleum energy technology degree.

Graduates with business and liberal arts degrees are hired to fill roles in accounting, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:human resources, and the other day-to-day functions that any business requires. People with these degrees face different pay rates compared to those with technical degrees, although the benefits with most laᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚrge oil and gas companies are attractive.

The Bottom Line

Recruiters from oil companies are showing up on college campuses, knowing that alternative energy is not sufficient to meet demand, and the world is a long way from achieving independence from fossil fuels. But increased competition and a s🐎maller talent pool are making it harder for companies in the industry to find new hires. Despite this, engineers andꦺ other technical experts must be replaced. Students with the right education can help fill the void.