Newspaper finds fracking jobs in PA have been overstated by state, and are declining

[JPZenger]

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc--marcellus-shale-jobs-20140223,0,7323897.story

Article on the front page of the Allentown Morning Call newspaper today.

Excerpts:

"But state records show the gas industry has not created as many jobs as state officials have claimed. In addition, the state's estimates of ancillary job growth have been inflated to include employment in places drilling isn't even taking place, further skewing the impact the natural gas industry has had on employment.

The number of jobs directly associated with Marcellus Shale's six "core industries," including drilling, extraction and pipeline construction, declined by 29 percent to 29,926 between the fourth quarters of 2010 and 2013, according to the state Department of Labor and Industry's January labor report. The report is based on employer surveys collected for federal unemployment data and has been produced using the same analysis since Gov. Ed Rendell's administration.

....But the state's ancillary jobs report is bloated and useless, Price said. The shale industry has led to more engineering and trucking jobs, he said. But it's hard to believe every engineer or trucker in the state is working in the gas industry as the State Labor Department reports, he said."

---
Meanwhile, gas production in Pa has increased by 60% in the last year. However, the Republican gas impact fee system is not designed to raise revenue consistent with increased production. The Democratic proposal for a 5% tax would have definitely increased tax revenue with increased production.

http://www.lvb.com/article/20140224/LVB01/140229934/Pennsylvania-natural-gas-output-leaps-by-more-than-60-percent

[Champion Jack]

1. Not surprising

They lie about the amount of jobs, they lie about the prosperity coming into communities, they lie about how safe and clean the stuff is… It's all just a giant lie so that multinational corporations can get richer at our expense

[gelsdorf]

2. But, but, but, Tommy Boy

sez fracking increased jobs by over 200k!! How could HE be wrong?
First class idiot

[JPZenger]

4. Yes, every single job created in PA. has resulted from fracking

Yes, if you look closely at One Term Tommy's numbers, every single new job that has been created anywhere in PA. has been the result of fracking.

[old guy]

3. No surprise.

The same "jobs" game has been part of the XL pipeline debate. Total fabrication.

[spinbaby]

5. Lots of gas-well employment around here

I live in the heart of gas-well territory in western PA. There are a LOT of people employed in gas. Trouble is, they're, for the most part, from Texas, not locals and they've driven up rents and real-estate prices. The local poor still have no decent jobs and now have an even harder time finding decent housing.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. And besides losing out on the tax revenue from extraction,

PA is also losing out on vehicle registrations of all these people who are living in my community in rental properties driving around with North Dakota plates.....a year after moving in. I am sure that they are not getting PA drivers' licenses either. It is obvious that they are not here to stay.

[PADEMLeftie]

7. Budget

Maybe thats why he is trying to lift the moratorium on leasing state forests for fracking. If he loses this talking point, he has literally nothing to offer for either party in the electorate