The people who power what’s next
By Jason McFarland, IADC President
There’s a question I keep hearing lately, and not just within our industry. It shows up in headlines, in conversations with friends and around dinner tables: Which careers will still matter once AI reshapes the way we work?
It’s a fair question. AI tools can now draft reports, write code and analyze data in seconds. Employers are rethinking entry-level roles that once served as the first rung on the career ladder. In the US, recent college graduates face a higher unemployment rate than the workforce as a whole.
Every AI query, every data center and every piece of technology this generation sees as its future depends on reliable energy. Data centers are quickly becoming one of the largest new sources of natural gas demand. The digital economy doesn’t run on ideas alone. It runs on energy, and a great deal of that energy traces back to a well drilled by someone in this industry.
That’s a story we haven’t always told well. Earlier this year, I wrote about IADC’s industry messaging campaign and the need to break out of our own echo chamber. The same challenge applies to the next generation. If no one tells young people what a career in drilling looks like, how would they know?
And what that career looks like today might surprise them. Our rigs run on automation, robotics and real-time data. Our people solve complex problems in some of the most demanding environments on Earth. The work is tangible, the stakes are real, and the judgment required isn’t something an algorithm can replace. In many ways, it’s exactly what this generation says it’s looking for.
What gives me real confidence is what I see in the next generation. They’re already here, and they’re already shaping our industry.
I saw it at our third annual IADC Young Professionals (YP) Summit, where attendees heard panelists speak candidly about career pivots, giving back to the communities where we work, and the different perspectives that come from working in the field versus the office. I saw it when our YP Committee organized an AI Literacy & Prompt Engineering Workshop and continued their Luncheon with Leaders event series. I’ve seen it in our Supply Chain Committee’s new Emerging Talent Series, which pairs students with industry professionals for mock interviews and career conversations. These young professionals aren’t waiting to be handed a seat at the table. They’re seeking out the knowledge, mentors and connections that will help them lead.
It’s happening all around the world. Student Chapter members at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals spent a full day with Halliburton exploring AI in drilling engineering. The Universiti Teknologi Petronas Student Chapter hosted senior leaders from Petronas for a discussion on leadership development and industry engagement as part of their Beyond the Barrel leadership program. The Suez University Student Chapter hosted PULSE 2026 – an event designed to connect students with real-world engineering practice. And numerous students were sponsored by IADC to attend industry events, like India Energy Week, and various IADC conferences.
Interest alone won’t close the gap, though. In Lagos this year, our Nigeria Chapter tackled a shortage of competent drilling personnel and an aging workforce, challenges members in nearly every region would recognize. The world is going to need more energy, and we’re going to need more people to produce it. Other industries know this as well, and they’re investing heavily to attract the same young talent we hope to reach.
No single company can close that gap
alone, but together, we can make real progress.
Let’s commit to continuing our investment in young professionals. Mentor them, include them in the conversations that matter, and encourage them to get involved with their industry and IADC.
And remember that there are tools available to you as individuals and companies in this industry. The campaign materials in IADC’s online portal were built for recruiting, onboarding and outreach. Let’s make sure they get in front of students, our friends, and educators who may never have considered a career in drilling.
Last year, I shared a line from an article my mentor, Ken Fischer, gave me early in my career: “The most creative ideas often come from the newest volunteer or staff member, because they don’t know what can’t be done.” I find that more relevant than ever. The young professionals joining us today grew up alongside the technology that’s reshaping the world. They bring fresh eyes to old problems, and that’s a strength we should embrace.
As the world debates which careers will hold up in an AI economy, I’m confident that part of the answer is already on our rigs and in our offices. The work we do will remain essential, and so will the people who do it.
In the following pages, you’ll find highlights of IADC’s work over the past year. Behind each accomplishment are members who gave their time, expertise and energy, and I’m grateful to each of you. Here’s to the people who power what’s next. DC
Click here to access the IADC industry messaging campaign assets.
