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 March 2023 totaled 198,700, an increase of 1,500 jobs from revised February employment numbers. Texas upstream employment in March 2023 represented the addition of 20,000 positions compared to March 2022, including an increase of 1,100 jobs in oil and natural gas extraction and 18,900 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 March. According to the association, there were 14,491 active unique jobs postings for the Texas oil and natural gas industry in March, including 6,193 new job postings added in the month by companies. March active unique job postings reflect a 21 percent increase compared to February, and a 35 percent increase in new job postings for the month.

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 March with 4,027 postings, followed by Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (2,002) and Crude Petroleum Extraction (1,548). The leading three cities by total unique oil and natural gas job postings were Houston (4,949), Midland (1,284) and Odessa (659), said TIPRO. 

The leading three companies ranked by unique job postings in March were Love’s (833), John Wood Group (822) and Halliburton (589), according to TIPRO. Of the top ten companies listed by unique job postings last month, five companies were in the services sector, followed by three midstream companies, one in gasoline stations with convenience stores, and one in oil and natural gas extraction. Top posted industry occupations for March included maintenance and repair workers (469), heavy tractor-trailer truck drivers (428) and managers (402). The top posted job titles for March included lease operators (96), field service technicians (96) and maintenance technicians (86).

Top qualifications for unique job postings included valid driver’s license (2,515), commercial driver's license (CDL) (334), and CDL Class A license (282). TIPRO reports that 40 percent of unique job postings required a bachelor’s degree, 31 percent required a high school diploma or GED, and 30 percent had no education requirement listed. There were 1,605 advertised salary observations (11 percent of the 14,491 matching postings) with a median salary of $48,000.

Additional TIPRO workforce trends data:

• 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.
• A sample of 500 active industry job postings in Texas for March 2023 - April 2023 can be viewed here. Please note, some positions may no longer be available.
• The top three posting sources in March included indeed.com (5,674), simplyhired.com (3,010) and workintexas.com (1,438).

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 March, Texas energy producers paid $427 million in oil production taxes and $267 million in natural gas production taxes. Oil and natural gas severance taxes are extremely important to the 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. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who spoke recently at TIPRO's 77th Annual Convention in early April, emphasized the powerful impact of the industry to the state economy and also highlighted how tax revenue generated from oil and gas production has contributed heavily to the state's record budgetary surplus.  

Additionally, TIPRO reports that oil and natural gas output is poised to further increase in the months to come. New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that U.S. oil production in May will grow by 49,000 barrels per day (b/d) and top 9.328 million b/d. In the Permian Basin, the most nation's most prolific shale oil basin, output will rise by 13,000 b/d to hit 5.694 million b/d. Oil production in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas is also expected to increase by 6,000 b/d to total 1.141 million bpd. According to the latest EIA estimates, domestic natural gas production also will climb in May and reach 97 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 22.5 bcf/d and in the Eagle Ford, where natural gas production will total 7.26 bcf/d. 

“The Texas oil and natural gas industry continues to ramp up employment and production in-line with growing demand for our product here and abroad,” said Ed Longanecker, president of TIPRO. “With global oil and natural gas demand projected to increase by 34 percent by the year 2050, it’s imperative that policy at the state and federal level reflect this reality and that our elected officials support continued investment in energy infrastructure and domestic production. By not doing so, energy prices will only increase for Americans and our country will become more reliant on other countries for oil and natural gas that do not adhere to the same environmental standards as the U.S. No other industry sector is more pervasive or important to our everyday lives and national security than oil and natural gas,” concluded Longanecker.

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