During his campaign trail, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that more than half a million jobs in Pennsylvania were directly linked to the controversial method of extracting oil and gas, widely known as fracking. Trump utilized this assertion as a scare tactic, suggesting that his opponent, Democratic nominee Joe Biden, would implement policies that would result in an unwieldy loss of jobs in the state.
However, a thorough examination of the numbers reveals a stark disparity between Trump’s claim and documented statistics.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry, the number of jobs directly related to fracking in Pennsylvania is significantly lower than the former president’s assertion. Specifically, these organizations have reported approximately 26,000 (BLS) and 52,000 (Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry) jobs associated with oil and gas extraction. These figures include positions such as drill operators, mining machine operators, excavation workers, and other related occupations.
Furthermore, research conducted by independent think tank Brookings Institution reveals an even sharper discrepancy. The organization estimated that in 2019, only about 33,000 jobs in the state were directly connected to the entire oil, gas and coal industry. Obviously, not all of these jobs involve fracking.
An argument could be considered that Trump was referencing jobs indirectly produced by the fracking industry, including supply chain roles peripheral to the industry, and general spending improvements to the local economy by workers in the industry. This could potentially account for the high number that he quotes. However, even when these jobs are factored into the equation, his claim remains inaccurately high.
The American Petroleum Institute, an industry trade group, argues that all forms of indirect and induced employment through ripple effects should be combined to give a total impact. Even when considering this broad definition, a study commissioned by them estimates around 322,600 jobs in total tied to the natural gas and oil industry in Pennsylvania in 2015, which is still far less than the 500,000 jobs Trump claimed.
Moreover, while the fracking industry has indeed served as a significant contributor to Pennsylvania’s economy, it should be noted that contrary to Trump’s insinuation, Biden has not proposed a complete ban on fracking, but rather a ban on new permits for fracked oil and gas wells on federal lands. As most fracking in Pennsylvania occurs on private and state lands, this proposition isn’t expected to cause large-scale job losses in the state.
In conclusion, while Trump’s claim may have held some rhetorical value, it significantly misrepresents the number of jobs related to fracking in Pennsylvania. The exaggeration of the figures seems to serve the purpose of fear-mongering rather than providing genuinely accurate data. This draws attention to the importance of checking facts and understanding the broader context when processing claims made by any individual or group, particularly in the context of a hotly contested political race.