在經(jīng)歷了一段緩慢的增長(zhǎng)之后，美國(guó)的天然氣產(chǎn)量從2007年到2013年增長(zhǎng)了25%以上（Hausman和Kellogg，2015年）。此外，該行業(yè)預(yù)計(jì)到2035年將有190萬(wàn)個(gè)職位空缺（IHS Global Inc.，2016）。這一前所未有的擴(kuò)張迅速改變了俄亥俄州、賓夕法尼亞州和西弗吉尼亞州（即“三州”地區(qū)）的就業(yè)形勢(shì)。隨著該行業(yè)創(chuàng)紀(jì)錄的增長(zhǎng)和進(jìn)一步的需求預(yù)期，確保雇主有機(jī)會(huì)獲得一支有準(zhǔn)備、有技能的勞動(dòng)力隊(duì)伍對(duì)維持三州地區(qū)的經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)至關(guān)重要。

Following a period of slow growth, natural gas production in the United States grew by more than 25 percent from 2007 to 2013 (Hausman and Kellogg, 2015). Further, the industry anticipates 1.9 million job openings through 2035 (IHS Global Inc., 2016). Tis unprecedented expansion has rapidly changed the employment landscape in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia (i.e., the “tristate” region). With record growth in the industry and further demand expected, ensuring that employers have access to a prepared, skilled workforce is paramount to sustaining economic growth in the tristate region.