Labor productivity has improved significantly over the last decade, rising an average of nearly 3% between 1989 and 1999. The industry is producing more, using less labor. In 2001 the average hourly wage for production workers was $23.60 per hour. [DOC 2001] However, the U.S. oil and gas industry has seen a substantial loss of jobs. In contrast to the significant job creation occuring throughout most of the economy. In the first two months of 1999, the U.S. oil and gas extraction industry lost 21,000 jobs. The refining sector has lost over 75,000 jobs, or 45% of the workforce, since February 1982. [API 1999]

Labor Productivity
(Labor output per hour, indexed to 1987)

Source: BLS 2001