How Can We Attract Young People to Our Industry?

DeAnn Craig, Chairperson, SPE Energy Information Committee

One of the keys to survival of the oil and gas industry is our ability to attract talented young people.

For many years, SPE has had outreach programs that encourage members to make classroom presentations about the importance of the energy we discover and produce and about career opportunities in our profession. In many countries, all types of technical and scientific professions are having difficulty attracting young people. Our industry is competing for the small pool of students with interests and abilities in science and math. This elite group is being actively recruited by many other industries wrongly considered to offer more attractive careers.

SPE does not have budgets to fund massive advertising campaigns, but we do have a powerful force in our worldwide membership. We could reach 70,000 classrooms this year if every member, including our student members, were willing to make one presentation to pre-university students.

A great opportunity to talk about our profession occurs each year during Engineers Week, set for 18–25 February 2007. SPE is a sponsoring society of this global event. We join with many other engineering professional societies to raise public awareness of engineers’ positive contributions to our quality of life and to motivate young people to pursue engineering careers. Many SPE sections already hold special events during Engineers Week, and you can easily become a volunteer. This is a great time to get involved by giving a presentation on a subject that you know inside and out—your job. In some cities, engineering societies and companies come together to sponsor events and competitions that allow students to experience engineering in a hands-on way. Sections can expand their visibility by partnering with the other societies in joint events. To find more information about Engineers Week and how you can participate, go to www.eweek.org.

As a percentage of total population, women are still underrepresented in the science and engineering fields. The Engineers Week Foundation has conducted some interesting research on career motivators for secondary-school girls. In fact, Engineers Week sponsors a day to “Introduce a Girl to Engineering.” Current engineering messages portray engineering as challenging and stress the importance of superior math and science abilities. These messages are not very effective with girls. Girls want their job to be enjoyable, to have a good working environment, to make a difference, to offer a good salary, and to be flexible. I believe most boys want the same things! The issue is not lack of preparation for engineering professions because girls are taking high school science and math courses at approximately the same rate as boys. Girls and the people who influence them—teachers, school counselors, parents, peers, and the media—do not understand what a career in engineering looks like and therefore do not consider it as a career option for them.

When you frame your message for today’s students (males or females), stress the personal benefits and rewards of being a petroleum engineer. In addition to reaching out to students in the classroom, SPE’s Energy Information Committee is increasing its efforts to reach teachers and school counselors because they can influence many students year after year.

Our influence as SPE members can be even less formal than classroom presentations. Have you encouraged your son or daughter or niece or nephew or the student next door to become an engineer? Have you let them know what a good industry this is for a career? If you have not, then get after it! A recent survey by Engineers Week of engineers and engineering students in the U.S. showed that 55% had a parent who is an engineer, so clearly we are among the most important career influencers in our children’s career choices.

By the way, if you are not willing to encourage your family members or other children you know to enter this industry, I would like to know the reasons why. You can send your comments to me at energyed@spe.org. I will print some of the responses (anonymously, of course) in future articles.