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 an increase in upstream employment for the month of September. According to TIPRO’s analysis, direct Texas upstream employment for September 2023 totaled 210,700, an increase of 1,700 jobs from revised August employment numbers. Texas upstream employment in September 2023 represented the addition of 18,700 positions compared to September 2022, including an increase of 2,600 jobs in oil and natural gas extraction and 16,100 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 September. According to the association, there were 11,990 active unique jobs postings for the Texas oil and natural gas industry in September, including 4,564 new job postings added during the month by companies. In comparison, the state of California had 3,376 unique job postings last month, followed by Louisiana (1,652), Oklahoma (1,649) and Pennsylvania (1,218). TIPRO reported a total of 52,767 unique job postings nationwide last month within the oil and natural gas sector. 

Among the 17 specific industry sectors TIPRO uses to define the Texas oil and natural gas industry, Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores led in the ranking for unique job listings in September with 2,898 postings, followed by Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations (2,343) and Crude Petroleum Extraction (1,365). The leading three cities by total unique oil and natural gas job postings were Houston (3,555), Midland (950) and Odessa (501), said TIPRO. 

The top three companies ranked by unique job postings in September were Cefco (1,412), Love’s (782), and John Wood Group (433), according to TIPRO. Of the top ten companies listed by unique job postings last month, six companies were in the services sector, followed by two in the gasoline stations category with convenience stores, one midstream company, and one in oil and natural gas extraction. Top posted industry occupations for September included first-line supervisors of retail sales workers (858), maintenance and repair workers (608) and heavy tractor-trailer truck drivers (314). The top posted job titles for September included store managers (301), customer service representatives (247), and maintenance people (194).

Top qualifications for unique job postings included valid driver’s license (2,003), commercial driver's license (CDL) (237) and transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) card (209). TIPRO reports that 39 percent of unique job postings had no education requirement listed, 35 percent required a bachelor’s degree, and 26 percent required a high school diploma or GED. There are 1,340 advertised salary observations (11 percent of the 11,990 matching postings) with a median salary of $52,100. The highest percentage of advertised salaries (30 percent) were in the $75,000 to $324,000 range.

Additional TIPRO workforce trends data:

• A sample of 500 industry job postings in Texas for September 2023 can be viewed here.
• The top three posting sources in September included www.indeed.com (4,978), www.simplyhired.com (1,929) and www.dejobs.org (1,575).
• 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 tax contributions provided by the Texas oil and natural gas industry for the month of September. Texas energy producers last month paid $544 million in oil production taxes, up from the prior month, and also contributed $208 million in natural gas production taxes, also higher than totals collected in August. Oil and natural gas severance taxes remain an important source of revenue for state and local governments and continue to be used help to support and pay for road and infrastructure investments, water conservation projects, schools and education, first responders and other essential public services across the Lone Star State. 

“Texas and the Permian continue to break production records while meeting rising energy demand for Americans and our allies abroad," said TIPRO President Ed Longanecker. "We are proud to see that high production numbers from our state are also contributing to a growth in employment in the oil and natural gas industry. With geopolitical conflicts escalating overseas and related market volatility, our industry continues to play an outsized role in supplying energy amid growing demand, underscoring the critical importance of U.S. oil and gas production at home and abroad."

"Texas continues to lead the nation in energy production," Longanecker continued. "Year-to-date through July 2023, Texas oil production accounted for over 43 percent of all oil production in the U.S. Similarly, natural gas production grew 5 percent nationwide, with a majority of the growth coming from the Permian Basin, where forecasts say natural gas production will increase by 11 percent (2.2 billion cubic feet per day) by the end of 2023, with more growth expected in 2024. Meanwhile, liquified natural gas (LNG) exports from Texas and Louisiana to our allies abroad have increased by 116 percent.

"No other industry in the world is as consequential from an economic, energy and national security perspective," Longanecker emphasized. "Operators across the United States and Texas need supportive policies at all levels of government to continue meeting energy demand and maintaining strong employment numbers, not policies that reward regimes like Venezuela, providing them with revenues to stay in power while putting pressure on responsible American producers. Supportive policy decisions must include the use of American oil and natural gas, addressing an outdated permitting process and avoiding policies that put our country at risk of an increased dependence on foreign energy sources. We need collaboration, not politics, to develop a cohesive and sensible strategy that recognizes the critical importance of the U.S. oil and gas industry and the necessary investment in energy infrastructure." 

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