NO SHORTAGE OF WORK IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IN NEW MEXICO THESE DAYS. RYAN FLYNN IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW MEXICO OIL AND GAS ASSOCIATION. HE SAYS THE CURRENT NUMBER OF RIGS OPERATING IN THE STATE, 103, MATCHES THE ALL-TIME HIGH.
FLYNN SAYS EACH RIG ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 50 JOBS AND THOSE JOBS ARE WELL-PAYING. HE SAYS THE KEY CHALLENGE IS THE GET AS MANY NEW MEXICANS TO DO THE WORK AS IS POSSIBLE.
THE REAL GROWTH AREA IS THE PERMIAN BASIN IN SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO WHERE THERE ARE CURRENTLY 101 RIGS OPERATING, THE MOST SINCE JANUARY OF 2015.
