Energy services employment declined again in February in U.S. and Texas, according to the latest jobs report from Houston-based Energy Workforce and Technology Council. The council said there were 624,149 jobs in U.S. last month – down from 625,256 in January and 629,372 in December – and 304,148 jobs in Texas – down from 304,687 in January and 306,693 in December. The report is based on data from Bureau of Labor Statistics and council analysis.
The council said the U.S. labor market also weakened. The U.S. economy lost 92,000 jobs in February, and the national unemployment rate increased to 4.4 percent, “signaling a broader slowdown across multiple sectors of the economy.”
Molly Determan, council president, said March 12, “Energy services companies are navigating a complex environment shaped by policy uncertainty, geopolitical risk and shifting global energy demand. Clear and consistent policies around permitting, trade and domestic energy development will be essential to restoring the confidence companies need to invest and grow the workforce.”
Also in the February report, there were 52,116 jobs in Louisiana, 47,498 in Oklahoma, 25,340 in Colorado and 23,343 in New Mexico.