Austin, Texas - Citing the latest Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) today highlighted new employment figures showing a gain in Texas upstream employment last month. According to TIPRO’s analysis, direct Texas upstream employment for April 2023 totaled 199,400, an increase of 700 jobs from March employment numbers. Texas upstream employment in April 2023 represented the addition of 17,600 positions compared to April 2022, including an increase of 1,700 jobs in oil and natural gas extraction and 15,900 jobs in the services sector.

TIPRO’s new employment data yet again indicated strong job postings for the Texas oil and natural gas industry during the month of April. According to the association, there were 15,127 active unique jobs postings for the Texas oil and natural gas industry in April, including 5,011 new job postings added in the month by companies. In comparison, the state of California had 5,139 unique job postings last month, followed by Louisiana (2,628), Oklahoma (2,184) and Pennsylvania (1,722). TIPRO reported a total of 64,286 unique job postings nationwide last month within the oil and natural gas sector. 

Among the updated 17 specific industry sectors TIPRO uses to define the Texas oil and natural gas industry, Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations led in the rankings for unique job listings in April with 3,989 postings, followed by Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (1,927) and Crude Petroleum Extraction (1,682). The leading three cities by total unique oil and natural gas job postings were Houston (5,228), Midland (1,391) and Odessa (686), said TIPRO. 

The leading three companies ranked by unique job postings in March were John Wood Group (844), Love’s (613) and Halliburton (540), according to TIPRO. Of the top ten companies listed by unique job postings last month, five companies were in the services sector, followed by two midstream companies, two in gasoline stations with convenience stores, and one in oil and natural gas extraction. Top posted industry occupations for April included maintenance and repair workers (467), heavy tractor-trailer truck drivers (437) and managers (400). The top posted job titles for April included lease operators (103), field service technicians (94) and process engineers (78).

Top qualifications for unique job postings included valid driver’s license (2,590), commercial driver's license (CDL) (345), and CDL Class A license (289). TIPRO reports that 41 percent of unique job postings required a bachelor’s degree, 30 percent required a high school diploma or GED, and 30 percent had no education requirement listed. There were 1,719 advertised salary observations (11 percent of the 15,127 matching postings) with a median salary of $49,800.

Additional TIPRO workforce trends data:

• A sample of 500 active industry job postings in Texas for April 2023 can be viewed here. Please note, some positions may no longer be available.
• The top three posting sources in April included indeed.com (5,926), simplyhired.com (3,413) and dejobs.org (1,893).
• Average annual wages for the Texas oil and natural gas industry can be viewed here.
• Leading industry positions in Texas with median hourly earnings, education, work experience and typical on-the-job training is available here.

TIPRO also highlights recent data released from the Texas comptroller’s office showing strong levels of tax contributions paid by the Texas oil and natural gas industry. In April, Texas energy producers paid $453 million in oil production taxes, up from levels reported for March. Producers also contributed $203 million in natural gas production taxes. Oil and natural gas severance taxes are extremely important to state and local governments and are used help to support road and infrastructure investments, water conservation projects, schools and education, first responders and other essential public services. 

Additionally, TIPRO reports that oil and natural gas output is poised to see further growth this summer. New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that U.S. oil production in June will grow by 41,000 barrels per day (b/d) and top 9.33 million b/d. In the Permian Basin, the most nation's most prolific shale oil basin, output will rise by 15,000 b/d to hit 5.71 million b/d. Oil production in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas is also expected to see modest gains by 2,000 b/d to total 1.108 million bpd. According to the latest EIA estimates, domestic natural gas production also will climb in June and reach 97.239 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) next month. This in part will be driven by production gains from the Permian, where natural gas production is expected to grow to 22.552 bcf/d and in the Eagle Ford, where natural gas production will total 7.248 bcf/d. 

“We are pleased to report continued growth in employment and production levels for the Texas oil and natural gas industry,” said Ed Longanecker, president of TIPRO. “This equates to enhanced energy security for our country and unmatched economic contributions to our state. Federal policymakers must remove, not add, regulatory barriers to unleash the true potential and positive impact of domestic oil and natural gas production. This includes long overdue federal permitting reform. We will continue to advocate for a compromise permitting reform bill to be included in the final debt ceiling package that is being negotiated between Congressional leaders and the White House,” concluded Longanecker.

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About TIPRO

The Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) is a trade association representing the interests of nearly 3,000 independent oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners throughout Texas. As one of the nation’s largest statewide associations representing both independent producers and royalty owners, members include small businesses, the largest, publicly-traded independent producers, and mineral owners, estates, and trusts.