Aug. 1. The North Carolina Petroleum Council says the U.S. natural gas and oil industry supported 141,500 jobs in North Carolina and contributed $13.41 billion to the state’s economy in 2015. The study found that all 50 states, whether energy producing or not,  benefit from the industry. The study was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers and commissioned by API. “North Carolina consumers have benefited from abundant and affordable supplies of American oil and natural gas,” said David McGowan, executive director if API. “In addition to lowered energy costs, oil and natural gas have fueled the state’s economy by supporting 141,500 jobs and stimulating more than $13 billion in economic activity. The natural gas and oil industry supported 10.3 million U.S. jobs in 2015. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage paid by the natural gas and oil industry in 2016, excluding retail station jobs, was $101,181 which is nearly 90 percent more than the national average. The North Carolina Petroleum Council is a division of API.