AUSTIN – Newly-released data from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) indicates that upstream oil and natural gas employment rose by an additional 1,700 jobs in September. These new numbers extend the strength of 2023’s job growth to date, with 14,300 jobs added so far this year.

“Three years ago in September 2020, upstream oil and natural gas employment hit rock bottom because of COVID, but now due to ingenuity, innovation and commitment to energy security, this industry has generated nearly 54,000 upstream oil and gas jobs in Texas,” said TXOGA president Todd Staples. “Not only have these high-paying jobs supported Texas families and communities, they’ve made Texas the undisputed energy leader and ushered in an energy renaissance that secures our allies abroad, provides domestic economic growth, and is making Texas cleaner, stronger and better.”

Since the COVID-low point of September of 2020, industry has added or recovered 53,700 Texas upstream jobs, averaging growth of 1,492 jobs a month. At 210,700 upstream jobs, compared to the same month in the prior year, September 2023 jobs were up by 18,700, or 9.7% over September of 2022. Months with an increase in upstream oil and natural gas employment have outnumbered months with a decrease by 31 to 5. Oil and natural gas jobs pay among the highest wages in Texas with employers paying an average salary of approximately $115,000 in 2022.

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.