Shale gas production and labor market trends in the U.S. Marcellus-Utica region over the last decade

Abstract

The advent of unconventional oil and natural gas production in the United States, made possible by improvements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies in recent years, has increased total dry natural gas production. This article analyzes trends in shale gas production and labor market data in the Marcellus-Utica region, which consists of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, where much of the increase in U.S. natural gas production has occurred. Production data are analyzed at both the county and state level, whereas labor market data are primarily analyzed at the state level, examining metrics such as employment, number of establishments, and wages. This article also addresses several questions regarding shale gas production and labor market trends of the Marcellus-Utica region, as well as the size of shale gas industries in relation to the overall economy.