Job Growth Continues in Texas Upstream Oil and Natural Gas Sector with 1,500 New Jobs in July

August 24, 2021

June upstream oil and natural gas job growth estimate adjusted upward from 3,100 to 3,600 jobs

AUSTIN – Data from the Texas Workforce Commission suggests that Texas upstream oil and natural gas employment expanded by 1,500 jobs in July. Also, June’s estimated job gain in the upstream sector was raised to 3,600 from the original 3,100. Since the low point in employment in September 2020, months with job gains have outnumbered decline months 8-to-2.

Compared to the same month in 2020, July 2021 jobs are up over the same month of the prior year. Now, upstream jobs are 15,800 higher, or 9.9%, than July of 2020. June’s job count stands 11.2% higher, or 17,600 more, than that of September of 2020, the low point. Total upstream employment is 175,100 upstream jobs – jobs that pay among the highest wages in Texas.

“Continued oil and natural gas upstream job growth is good news beyond the oil patch. Every direct oil and natural gas job in Texas generates an additional 3.0 jobs elsewhere in state’s economy. Oil and natural gas are not only essential for our everyday lives, but they anchor our economy and cement our energy security,” said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA). This and other economic impact data are included in a recent analysis released by TXOGA and the American Petroleum Institute that shows how the oil and natural gas industry drives post-pandemic economic recovery and strengthens all industries. 

The upstream sector involves oil and natural gas extraction and excludes other industry sectors such as refining, petrochemicals, fuels wholesaling, oilfield equipment manufacturing, pipelines, and gas utilities, which support hundreds of thousands of additional jobs in Texas. The employment shown also includes “Support Activities for Mining,” which is mostly oil and gas-related but also includes some small amount of other types of mining.

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Founded in 1919, TXOGA is the oldest and largest oil and gas trade association in Texas representing every facet of the industry.

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