Texas’ oil and natural gas industry employment and wages have continued to grow, according to data recently released by the Texas Workforce Commission and U.S. Census Bureau covering the Q3 2024.
According to Dean Foreman, Ph.D., Chief Economist at the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), these are the latest data reflecting the entire energy value chain.
The industry’s direct employment reportedly rose to 498,238 jobs in Q3 2024, a 2.3% year-over-year (y/y) increase.
Data revealed that workers in Texas’ oil and natural gas industry earned $14.5 billion in wages during the quarter, setting a new record for the period since data collection began in 1990. Industry wages also rose by 8.2% y/y—more than 3.5 times faster than employment growth—indicating escalation that reflected companies competing to attract and retain skilled workers, a news release from TXOGA stated.
Several subsectors set new record highs for employment:
- Pipeline transportation: 23,137 jobs
- Natural gas extraction: 18,384 jobs
- Plastics material and resin manufacturing: 11,853 jobs
- Other basic organic chemical manufacturing: 9,020 jobs
Dean says gains were also recorded in oil and natural gas pipeline construction, which grew by 12.5% year-over-year to 60,740 jobs, and industrial sand mining for hydraulic fracturing, which rose by 35.0% to 4,686 jobs.
Some declines were recorded in some sectors.
“Employment in oil and natural gas machinery and equipment manufacturing fell by 7.4% year-over-year to 55,110 jobs, while asphalt materials manufacturing saw a 4.6% decrease, bringing employment down to 2,774 jobs,” as quoted in the release.
Regional employment gains were, however, led by Harris (2,462 jobs), Jefferson (2,380 jobs), Brazoria (1,552 jobs), Montgomery (1,284 jobs), and Midland (847 jobs) counties. Meanwhile, employment decreased in Dallas (1,454 jobs), Bexar (415 jobs), and Orange (402 jobs) counties.
Source: Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA)
