Oil patch layoffs continue to grow, and the shale oil states represent the epicenter. G. Allen Brooks takes a look at the latest oil industry unemployment statistics. This opinion piece presents the opinions of the author. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Rigzone. Several recent media stories have focused on rising petroleum industry layoffs in response to the decline in global oil prices and the resulting fall in activity. Just how many people have already lost their jobs is difficult to accurately determine. Job loss estimates are being provided to the media by various personnel recruiting firms, although there are also data points available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Since oil prices began dropping last December, energy companies have announced layoffs in excess of 100,000 jobs, according to The Wall Street Journal. It references an estimate of at least 91,000 layoffs having already occurred according […]