Energy Workforce President Tim Tarpley joined industry and education leaders at the 22nd Americas LNG Summit & Exhibition in Lake Charles, Louisiana, last week for a discussion on building the workforce needed to support LNG growth. The summit brought together leaders across the LNG and gas industry to address supply security, infrastructure investment, and the challenges of expanding capacity. As part of the panel, “The LNG labor force: Strategies for success in the race for talent,” Tarpley addressed how energy security, long-term demand and technical training shape the outlook for the industry and its workers.
A central theme was LNG’s critical role in U.S. energy security and the workforce stability for the entire energy system that comes with long-term contracts. Those commitments give companies greater confidence in future demand, allowing them to plan staffing needs and invest in their employees’ development. For workers, that can mean a clearer path to a lasting career in energy. Tarpley also highlighted the role of technical training, including Energy Workforce’s offerings, in preparing people for those opportunities. Paired with experience in field operations, that training helps employees build the knowledge and judgment needed to work safely and effectively as equipment and technology change.
The work continues long after a new LNG facility opens. New facilities and the gas infrastructure that supplies them will need skilled people to operate and maintain them for years to come. Meeting those needs requires employers and training providers to stay connected, ensuring that instruction reflects the work employees will actually perform. Giving people opportunities to learn, gain experience, and advance will help companies build the workforce needed to deliver on the long-term promise for U.S. energy security.
Jeff Emerick, Director Government Affairs, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
