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ECONOMIC REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

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Box 2-2: Oil Prices and Employment in Related Industries<br />

Oil prices were more than 100 dollars-per-barrel as recently as<br />

September 2014. While the decline in oil prices has benefitted consumers<br />

and the economy overall, it has weighed heavily on mining employment,<br />

which includes oil and gas extraction. (See Box 2-1 of the 2016 Report<br />

or CEA 2015c for a more in-depth discussion of the impact of oil price<br />

declines on spending and production). Employment in the mining<br />

industry fell 26 percent from September 2014 to November 2016, though<br />

the pace of decline has slowed in recent months as the price of oil has<br />

stabilized. Oil and gas workers make up about 60 percent of the mining<br />

industry; though, they represent just 0.3 percent of total U.S. nonfarm<br />

employment. The level of mining employment is closely correlated<br />

with the price of oil, with shifts in employment usually following price<br />

changes (Figure 2-iv). Since 2000, mining employment has been most<br />

closely correlated with the lagged price of oil, suggesting that the stabilization<br />

in oil prices in the 40-50 dollar-per-barrel range since April 2016<br />

may translate into a stabilization of employment in this sector in 2017.<br />

Employment in the mining sector is more directly correlated with<br />

the oil and gas rig count—a measure that reflects the rate of drilling for<br />

new oil and natural gas—which also tend to lag oil prices. The rig count<br />

Figure 2-iv<br />

Oil Prices and Mining Employment, 2000–2016<br />

Dollars per Barrel<br />

Thousands of Jobs<br />

135<br />

900<br />

120<br />

850<br />

105<br />

90<br />

75<br />

60<br />

Oil Price<br />

(left axis)<br />

Mining<br />

Employment<br />

(right axis)<br />

800<br />

750<br />

700<br />

650<br />

45<br />

600<br />

30<br />

550<br />

15<br />

Nov-2016<br />

500<br />

0<br />

450<br />

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016<br />

Note: Displayed oil price is the Brent average monthly spot price through November 2016 (most<br />

recent available). Shading denotes recession.<br />

Source: Energy Information Administration; Bureau of Labor Statistics.<br />

78 | Chapter 2

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