Long article in the WSJ today shows petroleum engineering student enrollment has fallen 75% despite high prices and stratospheric starting salaries. Young people do not like filthy industries destroying the planet and/or do not see a future there. Companies are struggling and offering ever higher salaries, to no avail.
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Any kid who asks me I say the same thing, you may have a high paying starting salary but that isn’t worth the uncertainly.
One fine day you will be 40 and jobless with kids, mortgage etc etc.
This is a sh---y industry, stay away.
Not a surprise. Same is true for geologists/geophysicists. No matter what petroleum demand scenario you choose, petroleum skills will be increasingly less needed, this is an industry in slow decline. Best scenario is for those 50+ (any left?) who can retire before getting laid off with no career options.
Bad for business but good for employees who want the job. No layoffs.