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Natural gas is a critical component of America's energy supply, economic health and national security. Integral to the Texas state economy, the safe and responsible development of natural gas not only delivers clean, homegrown, abundant and affordable energy, but also provides good-paying jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for communities nationwide.

Jobs & Direct Revenue

According to a 2012 analysis by IHS Global Insight, the unconventional gas in Texas is responsible for:

• 288,222 total jobs in 2010, projected to increase to 682,740 by 2035.
• $22.8 billion in total labor income in 2010, projected to increase to $53.4 billion for Texas workers by 2035.
• $47.9 billion in value-added economic output in 2010, projected to increase to $111 billion by 2035.

Driving and Sustaining Job Growth

Between 2010 and 2015, the top ten states producing unconventional natural gas - Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wyoming and Pennsylvania - will experience a compound annual job growth rate of nearly 8 percent. During this time, total U.S. employment is expected to grow at a significantly lower rate of 1.6 percent during the same period.

Other Key Findings

Among the study's other key findings:

• Unconventional gas activity accounted for 53 percent of total U.S natural gas production in 2010 and is projected to rise to 79 percent of total U.S. production by 2035.
• By 2015, the annual contribution of unconventional gas activity to U.S. gross domestic product is projected to reach nearly $197 billion, more than $22 billion of which will be from non-producing states. This shows that even in areas that don't produce natural gas, there are substantial jobs and economic benefits. In total, the annual contribution to U.S. gross domestic product is expected to more than double by 2035 to almost $332 billion.

Critical Community Support

Beyond direct job creation, natural gas development positively affects the whole community through supply-chain industries and local revenue. This added revenue provides critical funding for state and local services, such as first responders and hospitals, as well as funding for municipalities and education services, including teachers, aides and support staff, and books. Economic expansion also benefits associated industries such as agriculture, hospitality and manufacturing, as well as Main Street businesses. In a companion study released in December, IHS estimated that the average American household will save $926 each year between 2012 and 2015 thanks to the affordable abundance of natural gas. These savings are estimated to increase to more than $2,000 per household in 2035.

Want more information? Visit the Texas Natural Gas Now website.

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