The Texas Oil and Gas Industry is showing signs of renewed strength as employment rebounds and hiring activity accelerates across the state. Despite remaining below last year’s workforce levels, the industry added jobs in March and continues to lead the nation in energy-sector hiring. As global supply disruptions impact international oil and natural gas markets, Texas producers are playing an increasingly important role in supporting domestic production, expanding LNG exports and reinforcing American energy security.

Rebounding from a string of winter losses, the Texas upstream oil and natural gas sector posted positive job gains in March. However, total employment remains down by 3.5% year-over-year, according to the latest workforce data from the Texas Workforce Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Inside the Numbers: Recovery and Expansion

Upstream employment, which includes extraction and specific mining activities but excludes refining, petrochemicals, and pipelines, grew by 1,800 jobs month-over-month. This brings the state’s total upstream workforce to 193,300. While a welcome recovery, it still sits below the 200,000+ benchmark seen this time last year, representing a year-over-year loss of 7,100 jobs.

An analysis by the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) broke down the March gains:

• Extraction Activities: Added 600 jobs, bringing the total to 64,500.
• Support Activities: Added 1,200 jobs, bringing the total to 128,800.

Despite the annual dip, industry leaders remain highly optimistic. Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA) President Todd Staples noted that current employment figures are significantly higher than historical norms. From 1998 through 2006, Texas upstream employment averaged just 142,000 jobs, staying well below the pandemic-era low of 157,000.

“As past cycles demonstrate, periods of decline followed by recovery are a recurring feature of the industry,” Staples said, pointing to recent corporate announcements regarding production expansion.

Texas Leads the Nation in Hiring

Texas continues to dominate the domestic energy labor market, outpacing every other state. In March, TIPRO tracked 9,110 unique industry job postings in Texas, a 7% increase over the previous month. Nationwide, unique job openings jumped 11% to 60,130.

By comparison, Pennsylvania held the second-highest number of unique job postings, with California, Ohio, and Illinois lagging far behind, each reporting fewer than 3,000 open positions.

Within the Lone Star State, hiring remains concentrated in Houston, Midland, Odessa, and Dallas. The companies actively driving recruitment include Loves, Energy Transfer, ExxonMobil, and Baker Hughes.

Global Volatility & The Demand for American Energy Security

The hiring surge aligns perfectly with rising domestic production forecasts from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA projects U.S. crude production will average 13.6 million barrels per day (b/d) this year, climbing to 14.1 million b/d in 2027, alongside steady increases in natural gas output.

This booming production is crucial on the world stage. Ongoing conflicts involving Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have severely disrupted Middle Eastern petroleum and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) flows. In response, Texas has stepped up to fill the void, with Corpus Christi reporting record-breaking LNG export volumes this past April. “Amid continued global market volatility and international supply disruptions, Texas oil and gas operators remain steadfast in delivering reliable, dependable energy to domestic and international markets,” said TIPRO President Ed Longanecker. “Texas producers are providing the stable energy supply that families, businesses and allies depend on, reinforcing the importance of American energy security at a critical time.”

Summary

The Texas Oil and Gas Industry added 1,800 upstream jobs in March, bringing total employment to 193,300 workers and signaling a recovery from recent winter-related losses. Texas continues to lead the nation in energy-sector hiring, with more than 9,100 unique job postings recorded during the month. Industry leaders remain optimistic as U.S. oil and natural gas production forecasts continue to rise. At the same time, global supply disruptions and reduced energy flows from the Middle East have increased demand for reliable Texas energy production, helping drive record LNG exports and strengthening the state’s role in supporting American energy security.

Learn More About the Texas Oil and Gas Industry

For additional information on Texas energy production, workforce trends, LNG exports and American energy security, visit resources from the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO), U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Texas Railroad Commission and the Texas Workforce Commission. These organizations publish regular reports, data and forecasts that help track developments across the Texas Oil and Gas Industry.