The shale boom is affecting thousands of small communities across the United States. We’ve heard comments like the ones below from locals in Williston and Watford City. These are just two of the towns where Canary operates. How has your community been affected?
“I don’t know anyone who can’t find a job.”
According to a February 2011 Gallup poll, North Dakota has the best job market in the country.[Source] As of 2012, the state had the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 3.2%. In the Bakken region, that number drops to just 1.8%.[Source]
“My grandkids have too many students in their classes.”
Williams County, North Dakota, is expecting a meteoric population expansion of 8% by the start of the next decade.[Source] The change is already hitting school districts: Watford City’s school district’s total K-12 enrollment was 521 students in 2008. It grew to 867 in 2013 and is projected to exceed capacity (of 1,125) by 2015, hitting 1,622 by 2018 and continuing to grow[Source, pg. 9].
The increase in class size is due to the population growth of North Dakota, which is leading all states in net migration: The July 2012 Census Bureau population estimate (699,628) reflects a 4% increase in just two years – compared to the overall US population rise of 1.7%. What’s more, the state’s oil-producing regions can anticipate their populations to increase yet another 50% over the next 20 years.[Source]
“There are so many new housing developments here. It’s crazy!”
The city of Williston is the fastest-growing area in the nation. Construction and remodeling permit valuations in the city exceeded $470 million in 2012.[Source] At least six new housing units are being built in Williston every day, for a total of 2,000-3,000 every year.[Source]
Many oilfield workers live in temporary housing while waiting for new homes to be constructed.
“We have sushi!”
These days, parts of North Dakota are hardly recognizable compared to only a decade ago. In Williston you can eat at Basil Restaurant, the new Asian fusion joint that’s recently opened and can barely accommodate its crush of patrons who come to sip the sake and sample the sushi. Afterwards, you might visit the Williston Brewing Company where beer connoisseurs — or even the wannabes — can try out one of the 40 specialty beers on tap or any of the 80-plus bottle brews .[Source]
Williston and Watford City aren’t the only communities impacted by the shale boom. Has your community seen changes?
I live in Texas and yes I do see an impact. There are a lot more jobs, and a lot of people moving to the Houston area. Jobs are great but the housing costs are going up.
I agree about the housing costs going up in certain areas where shale has had an impact. A problem I have, however, is that many medium-range housing complexes are being torn down and replaced with luxury apartments which of course go for high prices, many of which people who seek out apartments in the first place can’t afford. My point is, there has to be available housing in prices all people can afford.
In our community there are more community colleges and vo-tech schools offering programs to prepare students for the burgeoning oil and gas industry. Just think that our local, state and especially federal government should do more to push skilled labor education and not just education for those planning to attend college. Then we wouldn’t have so many people with degrees, loads of student loan debt but no jobs.
We don’t even live in a community with shale, and it’s had a big effect on us. Our writing and marketing firm has been getting a huge influx of oil and gas clients, and oil and gas related work.
LOVE IT!! KEEP THE MONEY IN THE GOOD ‘OL USA!!!!
I don’t live in an area where the shale boom is has impacted yet. I am glad to see that there will be an increase in education and jobs here in America because of the boom.
Not so much in Minneapolis. But for sure in Northern MN where lots of people have gone to ND to work.
I have been in this industry for almost 20 years and I am glad to see that the market is thriving in these areas. I do business in these areas through my current company and have watched the economy flourish. I am based in Houston and have seen job growth here in relation to the increase of business in the Williston Basin and surrounding communities. The housing market here is coming back due to the influx of people being brought in by companies to handle the growth in the market overall.
My community hasn’t been affected but I am a total supporter of this industry and I feel that it benefits our entire country. I hope that more Americans wake up and realize that we need to develop our own natural resources and get politics out of the way of becoming independent.
Thank you for sharing this I was not that informed about the effects of shale and I enjoyed reading this article.
My community hasn’t been impacted by shale yet, but I live in Utah and there is shale here, so it could be impacted in the future.
yes I do see an impact.
I don’t recall seeing any local stories regarding the impact of shale in our area but thanks for all the information.
Nanette have you seen any drilling companies set up shot in Utah? And Marla I agree with you about training outside of college. Lots of people aren’t suited for college but need marketable skills in these fields. And yeah, if you can avoid student debt and still have skills to make a good living then more power to you.
Awesome keep the money in the USA
I’m sure Shale is excellent and jobs are great! But what is obvious to me is the fact that people having great SEX Lives just looking at the population growth! Let’s face it if you feel good you work so much better! And who doesn’t feel good after a good round of mind blowing great XXX? You rock USA!!! 🙂
Maybe we should all move closer to Patricia!!!
USA needs the jobs, somehow those areas need to not become greedy (super high housing costs, etc.) but keep grounded so to speak. Without jobs our country will continue to fall apart.
Can’t say that we Wisconsinites are seeing much tracking, but the upper portions of the state have been pegged for frac sand mining. Should be interesting to see how it plays out here.
The greed, or some might call it market demand, has already gotten out of control in Williston, which has some of the highest if not the highest housing prices in the country. Yes, many of the drillers are making the bucks but some other places like fast food restaurants need workers, too, but they aren’t paying them enough to afford $2,000 or more a month rent for a one-bedroom apartment. Bottom line there has to be a variety of housing available for a workforce with a variety of incomes.
I don’t see the effect in my area, but thanks for the article.
The USA needs job in Texas and everywhere. This discussion has been very helpful to me.
Thank you for the article and the forum to discuss this issue. I’m a Realtor in Gilbert, Arizona (Phoenix Metropolitan Area) and have seen the impact of the oil and gas industry in our market. The volume of home owners that have purchased residences here that hail from North Dakota has increased greatly. I’ve had the privilege to work with several of these families and find that, due to the extra income people have found our corner of the country to be a wonderful place to have a home to avoid the cold winter months. Interestingly, only one of my clients was actually in the oil and gas industry. It appears that the economic boom has been able to positively impact almost every segment of the population.
Keeping our energy dollars in the US is clearly a benefit to all Americans and it is apparent that the positive financial impact of these operations is being felt across this great nation.
Living in Houston, I’ve definitely seen a lot of job growth and met a lot of people in recent months working jobs tied to shale. Hope the job growth continues!
I post jobs for the oilfield industry on a completely volunteer basis and I’ve seen a huge impact in the number of people seeking advice, career leads, etc. I believe that times like these will actually create innovative solutions and increase quality as employers have a larger base to choose from. I’m grateful for companies that do all they can to keep their employees working. Thank YOU for making an effort to understand the demographics of the industry and people involved. Kuddos to Canary!!! When we were in Watford we passed your building quite often, impressive. Your dedication to working within the communities you are involved in is also to be loudly applauded. ~Rikki Smith/Owner Oilfield Jobs Page – Social Media Multisites