Texas upstream oil & gas jobs up 9.7% in April

The Texas Oil & Gas Association reports that April upstream oil and natural gas employment hit nearly hit 200,000 workers, something that hasn’t happened in more than three years.

The data was released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Texas Workforce Commission found the count edging up by 700 jobs.

“Texas’ energy leadership continues to meet domestic and global energy needs,” said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association. “The additional employment, even during uncertain economic times, is a strong testament to the commitment of this industry to deliver.”

At 199,400 upstream jobs, compared to the same month in the prior year, April 2023 jobs were up by 17,600–or 9.7%–over April 2022.

(Image: Texas Oil & Gas Association)

Since the COVID-low point in September of 2020, months of increase in upstream oil and natural gas employment in Texas have outnumbered months of decrease by 27 to 4. Industry has added 42,400 Texas upstream jobs, averaging growth of 1,368 jobs a month. These jobs pay among the highest wages in Texas, with employers in oil and natural gas paying an average salary of approximately $115,000 in 2022.