Data from Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Oil and Gas Association show that the state’s oil exploration and production industry added 2,300 jobs in February and 7,400 jobs since September. That brings the total drilling and oil extraction employment in Texas to 164,900 jobs. Houston Chronicle said it’s “a sign that the industry is recovering from the worst oil bust in decades.” Texas’ oil and gas industry lost about 60,000 exploration and production jobs during the global pandemic, which slashed demand for crude and petroleum products such as gasoline and jet fuel. Deloitte said the national industry lost about 107,000 jobs.