Three Reasons Why We're Investing in STEM Education
Lem Smith
Posted December 17, 2021
Developing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills at all education levels is a top priority for the U.S. natural gas and oil industry as we prepare future generations of workers by supporting instruction in these critical topic areas ahead of major energy and environmental challenges to come.
At the same time, investing in STEM education helps advance another top industry priority – strengthening our workforce through further diversification and by fostering equity and inclusion.
In particular, we are committed to helping more women and people of color pursue fulfilling, good-paying careers through STEM education because we know that a diverse workforce that fosters equity and inclusion is foundational to a strong, successful natural gas and oil industry.
It’s a big win for all involved:
- Reliable Employment: America’s natural gas and oil industry supports 11 million jobs.
- Great Pay: Non-retail direct industry jobs pay 80% more than the average job in the U.S.
- Equal Opportunity: Research indicates 1.9 million job opportunities will be available in the natural gas, oil and petrochemical industries in the next 20 years. About half of them are projected to be filled by people who identify as African American, Hispanic, Asian or non-white.
Those last statistics take on greater importance because right now only 15% of engineers are women. Meanwhile, across all STEM disciplines of workers, just 9% are African American and 8% are Hispanic.
We are proud and prepared to help close that gap as STEM issues remain foundational for our entire industry. Our workforce of problem solvers tackle the world’s greatest energy challenges day in and day out. To continue to do that, we aim to attract and retain the best and brightest from every community.
API President and CEO Mike Sommers echoed these messages last week during an executive roundtable discussion, “STEM Workforce Development Through an Equity Lens,” organized by Discovery Education and the STEM Careers Coalition:
“We are working to address the greatest challenge of our time, which is climate change. And unless we as an industry are attracting the best and brightest from all communities, we aren’t going to be able to meet the climate challenge that we know exists – to provide affordable, reliable energy for the world while at the same time reducing our environmental impact. That’s why we need a diverse workforce moving forward.”
API has partnered with Discovery Education and the STEM Careers Coalition since its launch in 2019. Through these efforts, we develop and promote STEM education resources at 75 schools around the country, supporting about 6,300 students and nearly 1,000 teachers. By demonstrating the connection between the classroom and the real world, we hope to inspire the next generation of industry leaders and professionals – and show the world how American energy leadership is a force for good.
About The Author
Lem Smith is API’s vice president for Federal Relations. Lem joined API in February 2020 as vice president for Upstream Policy & Industry Operations. He previously served as a principal at Squire Patton Boggs, an international law and public-policy firm, where he advised private and public sector clients on federal and multi-state policy matters and provided counsel on communications strategies, campaign affairs and crises management. Previously, Lem was director, U.S. Government & Regulatory Affairs at Encana, and responsible for all aspects of U.S. government relations and regulatory policy matters at the state and federal levels. Prior to that, Lem was director of Government Relations for Kerr-McGee Corporation. Lem began his career on Capitol Hill, working for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker (Mississippi) and the late U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood (Georgia), where he negotiated key member priorities within the 2005 Energy Policy Act (EPAct). Lem is a graduate of the University of Mississippi.