Oil and Gas Added Billions to Wyoming’s Bottom Line in 2021

The Petroleum Association of Wyoming (P.A.W.) and American Petroleum Institute (A.P.I.) released new analysis on the growing economic contributions of America’s natural gas and oil industry in all 50 states, including investment in Wyoming ranging from taxes and workforce wages paid to indirect and induced jobs in retail, manufacturing, agriculture, and other sectors throughout the energy supply chain.

The study, commissioned by API and prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers (P.w.C.), showed that the industry supported more than 58,000 jobs and contributed nearly $11.9 billion toward the state’s economy in 2021.

“It is well known across the state that the natural gas and oil industry is Wyoming’s primary economic driver,” said P.A.W. President Pete Obermueller. “This latest report reveals just how true that is – boosting every facet of the state’s economy from agriculture to tourism to manufacturing. Natural gas and oil are literally powering Wyoming’s potential.”

“Natural gas and oil deliver growing economic contributions to America that were nearly equivalent to Canada’s annual GDP last year. From Wyoming to New Mexico, America’s natural gas and oil workforce is the backbone of communities, supporting nearly 11 million careers throughout the energy supply chain,” A.P.I. President and CEO Mike Sommers said. “America’s economic outlook is brighter when we are leading the world in energy production, and this analysis serves as a reminder that we need policies and regulations that encourage investment and enable development.”

The P.w.C. report is based on the latest government data available at the state, national, and congressional district levels. The findings highlight the importance of policies that promote energy development, including meaningful action on permitting reform and the issuance of a final five-year plan for offshore oil and gas leasing.

According to the findings, in 2021, the industry directly and indirectly:

• Supported 58,780 total jobs (20,340 direct and 38,440 indirect) or 14.4 percent of Wyoming’s total employment.
• Generated an additional 1.9 jobs elsewhere in Wyoming’s economy for each direct job in the state’s natural gas and oil industry.
• Provided $5.7 billion in labor income ($3.6 billion direct and $2.1 billion indirect) to Wyoming, 23.3 percent of the state’s total.
• Contributed $11.9 billion to Wyoming’s total gross domestic product ($8.3 billion direct and $3.5 billion indirect), 28.6 percent of the state’s total.

In 2021, the U.S. led the world in natural gas and oil production, and the benefits of that leadership permeated throughout non-producing and producing states alike. At the national level in 2021, the natural gas and oil industry:

• Supported 10.8 million total jobs or 5.4 percent of total U.S. employment.
• Generated an additional 3.7 jobs elsewhere in the U.S. economy for each direct job in the natural gas and oil industry.
• Produced $909 billion in labor income, or 6.4 percent of the U.S. national labor income.
• Supported nearly $1.8 trillion in U.S. gross domestic product, accounting for 7.6 percent of the national total.

The Petroleum Association of Wyoming is “the voice of the oil and gas industry.” Members of the group produce 90 percent of Wyoming’s oil and gas, generating over $8 billion in economic activity and employing more than 20,000 people in the state. P.A.W. strives to foster mutually beneficial relationships with Wyoming’s landowners, businesses, and communities while promoting the sustainable production of Wyoming’s abundant resources.

Click here for more information on the economic impact analysis and here to view a copy of the report.