Texas Upstream Jobs Down Month on Month
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Oil and gas exploration and production employment positions in Texas fell by 500 to 196,400 jobs in September compared to August, the Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA) said Tuesday.
However, compared to the same month in 2025, last month's figure represents an increase of 2,400 jobs, TXOGA reported, citing data from the Texas Workforce Commission.
The latest figure marks an increase of over 25 percent or more than 39,400 jobs from September 2020.
“Month-to-month, job numbers will move", said TXOGA president Todd Staples.
"With global tensions weighing on industries worldwide, Texas producers keep delivering the energy Americans rely on every day while nearing historic production highs", Staples added. "To keep this momentum going, it is imperative that pro-reliable energy policies are prioritized to ensure our industry can grow the workforce and move product to market".
TXOGA noted, "Upstream positions support an additional 232,000 indirect jobs within the supply chain and 421,000 induced jobs supported by household spending across the economy".
"In total, the upstream oil and natural gas sector alone sustains a total of 849,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs", it said.
Advertisement - Scroll to continueThe Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) reported separately, "Measured against the January starting point, upstream employment is up 4,000 jobs, or 2.1 percent, for the year [as of September]. That net gain reflects a much larger increase of 5,800 jobs from a February low of 191,500 to the May peak of 197,300, following an early-year decline of 900 jobs in February".
"The June and July losses of 300 and 1,500 jobs, respectively, subsequently gave back a portion of that spring gain", TIPRO said. "August's revised 1,400-job increase restored part of the July decline. September's 500-job decline partially offset the August gain. July figures, initially reported as a 1,200-job decrease to 195,800, have since been revised and now reflect a 1,500-job decline from June to 195,500.
"Month-to-month fluctuation of this kind is common in upstream employment data over the course of a year… and this period has been no exception, with declines in four of the eight monthly changes recorded so far, including the 900-job drop in February and the 1,500-job drop in July, the steepest monthly decline of the year.
"TIPRO's workforce analysis continues to indicate strong job postings for the Texas oil and natural gas industry".
There were over 12,700 unique job postings during September and 5,418 new job postings added during the month in Texas. "In comparison, the state of California had 3,688 unique job postings in September, followed by Pennsylvania (3,552), Ohio (2,986) and New York (2,696)", TIPRO said.
"TIPRO reports a total of 73,739 unique job postings nationwide during the month of September within the oil and natural gas industry, including 30,639 new postings".
In Texas, support activities for oil and gas operations had the most unique job listings in September (nearly 2,900), followed by gasoline stations with convenience stores (over 2,200), refineries (over 1,000) and gas transport by pipeline (nearly 900). Houston, Midland, Dallas and Odessa led Texan cities with the highest number of unique oil and gas job postings.
The most in-demand occupations in Texas in September included heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, cashiers, and general maintenance and repair workers.
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Figures reflect the source report and its stated period. This article is for information and is not investment advice.
