Texas oil and natural gas industry continues to add jobs

The Texas oil and natural gas industry continues to remain strong, adding 800 jobs in September over the month in the upstream sector alone, according to new employment data from the Texas Workforce Commission.

September’s numbers represent five out of nine months this calendar year where the job count increased, and the fourth consecutive monthly increase.

“With weakness in global economies, international conflicts and uncertainties at home, a positive job count for September is welcomed news,” Texas Oil & Gas Association president Todd Staples said. “Texas remains the production powerhouse for America and the innovation center for energy growth and improvement.”

Since the COVID-low point of September 2020, the industry has added 38,400 upstream jobs, averaging growth of 800 jobs per month, the Texas Oil & Gas Association notes. Since the COVID-low point, months with upstream oil and natural gas employment increases outnumbered those with decreases by 37 to 11, it says.

Jobs in the Texas oil and natural gas industry pay among the highest wages in the state of approximately $124,000 in 2023, it adds.

The upstream sector involves oil and natural gas extraction and a small amount of mining. It excludes other industry sectors like refining, petrochemicals, fuels wholesaling, oilfield equipment manufacturing, pipelines, and gas utilities, which support hundreds of thousands of additional jobs statewide.

Direct Texas upstream employment for September totaled 195,400, representing a decrease of 900 jobs in oil and gas extraction and an increase of 1,700 services sector jobs last month, according to an analysis by the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO).

Last month’s data represents “strong job postings for the Texas oil and natural gas industry,” TIPRO says, which also published data about nearly 12,000 job openings in the industry in Texas.

“Rising upstream employment and a record production forecast mean one thing, the world needs more oil and natural gas to meet growing energy demand and Texans are more than willing to accommodate,” TIPRO president Ed Longanecker said. “Our state is blessed with an abundance of oil and natural gas and the most pro-business environment in the country, and we must keep it that way.

“As we approach the conclusion of another consequential election cycle, we encourage all Texans to do their due diligence and vote for candidates that support economic prosperity and energy security for our state and country.”

The Center Square recently highlighted the voting record of several members of Texas’ Congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, who’s challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Houston.

In multiple instances and in key votes, Allred voted against bills to reduce energy costs and protect the Texas oil and natural gas industry when his Democratic colleagues, U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, voted for them.

“While TIPRO does not officially endorse candidates, the lifetime voting record on oil and gas priorities is vastly different between the two, with Senator Cruz voting at 95% and Congressman Allred at 27%,” Longanecker told The Center Square, referring to an Independent Petroleum Association of American ranking.

Cruz also received a similar A+ ranking from the American Energy Alliance, which endorsed him as “a steadfast champion of American energy independence, standing firm against policies that harm our energy sector and drive up costs for Texas families and businesses alike.” The AEA gave Allred a D grade for his voting record on energy policy.

Earlier this year, Cruz introduced a bill to kill a natural gas tax proposed by the Biden-Harris administration, and has consistently voted and advocated for policies to expand pipeline and port permits, reduce energy costs and expand U.S. energy independence, The Center Square has reported.

The nonpartisan Chamber of Commerce also endorsed Cruz after twice endorsing Allred in his House races. telling The Center Square, “Sen. Cruz has a proven track record of support for policies that cut taxes, fight regulatory overreach, boost domestic energy production, modernize infrastructure, and promote trade, while protecting American jobs."

According to U.S. Energy Information Administration production forecasts, more growth in domestic crude oil and natural gas output is expected in 2025, with the majority driven by productivity gains in the Permian Basin in west Texas and southeast New Mexico.

Under Gov. Greg Abbott and with state regulatory and legislative support, the Texas oil and natural gas industry continues to break multiple records in production, exports, refining outcomes, crude oil supply, emissions reductions, job growth, and paid a record $26.3 billion in taxes in fiscal 2023, The Center Square reported.