Schools in Houston Metro Area Become Haven for Energy Workers
It’s undeniable that the energy sector all over the country is going through some changes. Last month 20,193 jobs were cut, according to the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
While those numbers might seem glum, there is some hope on the horizon. It seems many of these refugees are headed for business schools to pursue MBA degrees. According to the Wall Street Journal, Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business and University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business have reported increases in applications for their two-year full-time MBA programs from energy-sector candidates.
Because admissions are still open it’s hard to say just how many energy workers will head towards their MBA degree, but this type of pattern isn’t unusual for business schools. When a certain sector of the economy is in good health there won’t be as many workers leaving it to pursue new MBAs. The reverse is also true. When a sector experiences a squeeze many workers seek to make themselves more valuable causing MBA applications to increase.
How will this affect schools like McCombs and Jones? Both schools are known for having great programs in energy sector training. McCombs has the Energy Management & Innovation Center– which offers an energy-specific business curriculum– and Jones offers degree concentrations specifically in energy management. As competition for admissions increases, classrooms should fill with students who are eager to learn and hopefully create some interesting innovation in the energy-sector.
