The promise of job creation locally often falls short. In middle-income countries, the oil and gas industry is also marked by widespread use of contract labor under precarious working conditions. The high-paying jobs such as managerial and engineering roles are typically not filled by residents, but by outside professionals who constitute a small portion of the workforce. Moreover, employment opportunities are limited; a typical LNG terminal, once operational, employs fewer than 400 people.
In addition, LNG companies in the US sometimes benefit from local public support in the form of tax abatements. These incentives reduce the public funds available for essential services, redirecting resources based on corporate promises of jobs and investment.
