Texas Oil and Gas Association said last week oil exploration, drilling and production companies employed 170,500 workers in the state in September. That’s an increase of 700 oil and gas extraction jobs for the month – the first increase since the pandemic started in March. Todd Staples, president of the association, said, “This small but positive job growth is an indicator of better days ahead.” Houston Chronicle added, “The job growth is a sign that the oil and gas industry is starting to recover from the worst oil bust in decades.”
Texas Alliance of Energy Producers said oil and gas companies laid off 47,300 drilling-related workers in the state between March and September. Data from the Workforce Commission of Texas was used in the employment analyses.