As worldwide demand for oil and gas climbs over the next decade, most industry experts anticipate an overall decline in jobs. Some sectors expect an employment drop of more than 20%.

While the size of the oil and gas workforce shrinks, the complexity of jobs will rise, due to market volatility, environmental concerns, global expansion and worldwide competition. The future workforce in our industry will look very different from what it does today. Demand will be strongest for workers with strong technical skills, capable of using sophisticated equipment and such new technologies as 3-D and 4-D seismic exploration methods, horizontal and directional drilling techniques, and deepwater and subsea technologies.

Now here's the rub for the industry: According to a recent study by the US Department of Education, seven out of 10 students nationally are graduating from high school without completing the courses needed to succeed in college or in the workplace. Of those students who go on to college, 49% require remedial courses. And students who must take remedial courses are six times less likely to complete 2- or 4-year college degrees.

By the end of this decade, the US Department of Labor estimates that our nation will face a shortage of 12 million qualified workers for the faster-growing sectors of the job market. And while the oil and gas industry may not need as many workers as previously, it is abundantly clear that we will be competing strenuously for the cream of the crop.

This trend is already in evidence. A 2001 study by the National Association of Manufacturers indicates that 59% of businesses surveyed nationwide report poor basic employment skills among recent hires. More than a quarter complained about inadequate math skills, while a third indicated new hires lacked sufficient reading and writing skills.

So while our industry is undergoing a sea change that increases the need for workers with stronger academic credentials and higher technical abilities, our nation's high schools are not turning out enough graduates who - based on the data - possess the qualifications and work ethic to succeed. What's the solution?

The bottom line is that we, as business people, must demand more of our schools. Research strongly indicates students who have completed rigorous coursework in high school are better equipped to advance to higher education, succeed in workplace or military training programs, and/or resume their education in preparation for career changes at a later date. Because the majority of jobs - not just those in oil and gas exploration - now require some type of education after high school, all students need to complete a sequence of rigorous academic courses in math, lab sciences, English, social studies and foreign languages.

Don't think so? Three long-term studies conducted by the US Department of Education confirm that students who took Algebra 2 rather than stopping at geometry were nearly 40% more likely to get their degrees.

The State Scholars Initiative, introduced by President George W. Bush and Secretary of Education Rod Paige in the summer of 2002, is challenging high school students to master a set of academically rigorous courses that will better prepare them to succeed in college, in the workplace and in life. This is a simple, low-cost, high-impact approach to motivating high school students to take rigorous coursework but, as the research shows, it works. In community after community, it is doubling and tripling the rate of completions in lab science and higher math courses. The key ingredient is business people taking a lead role in drawing a clear picture of the opportunities that await young people who work hard and complete the right courses in high school.

Our company is playing a significant role in recruiting scholars because it is incumbent on us to foster a culture of achievement among today's students. We need to make sure that all high school students complete a rigorous sequence of courses that include math through Algebra 2, the three lab sciences - biology, chemistry and physics - 4 years of English and 2 years of a language other than English (The US Department of Education's prescribed course of study for students heading into the workforce or higher education can be found at www.centerforstatescholars.org). Doing so not only will help businesses to more readily find the kinds of workers who can help them to remain competitive, but - perhaps more importantly - will better prepare students for success in the future, regardless of what they decide to do in life. They are less likely to require costly remediation and more likely to be productive citizens who contribute to our company, our communities and the broader economy. The investment we make in helping ensure that students acquire a solid academic foundation during high school pays incalculable dividends.

Luke Corbett is chairman and CEO of Kerr-McGee Corp. and vice chairman of the Oklahoma Business Education Coalition, which promotes the State Scholars Initiative in Oklahoma, www.centerforstatescholars.org.

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