The term ‘roughneck’ conjures up images of rough-looking, greasy oilfield workers, sort of an iconic visual depiction, like those of cowboys of the old West. In those days, long past, the progress of operations carried out on an oilfield location was determined solely by the grit and tenacity of the workers involved, the roughnecks. Today, the industry is undergoing a transformation driven by artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. Times are uncertain for those old-school roughnecks that still go to work every day in the patch; their numbers are much smaller in size as operations move at the speed of light due to efficiency; new workers come in with new skills.

Efficiency Displaces Workers

First came significant gains in efficiency, making operations that would historically take months now trimmed down to just days or weeks. The new speed of these operations resulted in a significant reduction in the number of workers required. One example is the state of Oklahoma, which has lost nearly a third of its oil and gas workforce since 2019; much of that workforce was lost during a time of prosperity and record profits. Twenty percent of Oklahoma’s workforce is in oil and gas, so they have some challenges ahead when it comes to retraining workers who this shift in the industry will displace.

Another efficiency gain in the industry is reducing unplanned downtime costs. By utilizing technology that can significantly reduce human error, companies can save millions of dollars annually. According to Aberdeen Research, a company will spend thirty-eight million dollars a year on unplanned downtime costs, primarily due to human error ( Ryan Arsenault, 2016). AI predictive maintenance is changing this by catching equipment failures before they occur.

Advanced Technology Requires More Skilled Workers

Traditionally, most oil and gas workers could start their careers with no formal college education. These were manual labor positions that could only be learned through on-the-job training. Today, robotics and drones are used to inspect pipelines and rigs. At the same time, autonomous drilling systems utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to adjust parameters in real time, thereby reducing the nee human oversight. This shift means that companies are now seeking AI specialists, data scientists, and robotics engineers. There is a growing demand for hybrid-type roles that combine petroleum engineering with AI expertise. This shift in technology and streamlined corporate structures where oilfield service companies transition from owning more expensive assets to being technology focused is also creating better profit margins without the need to increase capex (Linnane, 2025).

Fortunately, the very thing that is reshaping the workforce in the oil and gas industry is also the thing that can train the workers. As the oil and gas industry faces a workforce crisis, where forty percent of skilled workers are expected to retire by 2030, it is AI itself that can bridge the gap and equip existing workers with the skills they need moving forward. Augmented Reality training teaches workers to use AI-guided simulators instead of shadowing veterans. Digital twins, combined with AI, can recreate a digital version of any project or job to train workers on a step-by-step basis of how to perform tasks.

Tech Is Replacing the Roughneck

The oil and gas workforce of today looks significantly different from what it was just a decade ago, as the industry relies less on instinct and grit and more on data and technology. Many existing jobs will be replaced as part of this change, while new ones will emerge. One thing is sure: this is creating a much safer workplace than ever before, as we utilize technology to remove people from the most hazardous situations. Shell was able to achieve a forty percent reduction in equipment failures, and a thirty-five percent reduction in unplanned downtime (Insights Global, 2025). Reducing equipment failures and downtime also reduced the amount of time that employees are exposed to hazardous situations. This is particularly beneficial for oil and gas workers who labor through the boom-and-bust cycle of the industry, as these new skills will provide them with access to more opportunities and jobs outside of the industry during those downturns.