Employment in the Texas upstream sector increased between November and December 2025.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) said in a statement sent to Rigzone on Friday, which cited the latest Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) at the time.<\/p>\n
TIPRO highlighted in the statement that oil and natural gas extraction jobs rose by 500, or 0.7 percent, month on month, to 70,200, and support activities employment grew by 1,500, or 1.1 percent month on month, to 133,200. TIPRO reported in the statement that combined upstream employment increased by 2,000 jobs, or 1.0 percent month on month, to 203,400.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom January to December 2025, employment in the Texas upstream sector showed early gains followed by later fluctuations,\u201d TIPRO said in the statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cOil and Gas Extraction added a net 2,000 jobs (+2.9 percent), reaching a peak of 70,200 in June, July, and December, driven by robust Permian production despite market pressures,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
\u201cSupport Activities employment recorded a net loss of 2,100 jobs (-1.6 percent), with a February0May surge (+2,800) partially offset by mid-year declines (-3,400 in June-July) and subsequent volatility, reflecting rig count reductions and service sector adjustments,\u201d it continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cCombined, the sectors ended essentially flat, with a net change of -100 jobs (-0.05 percent), reaching 203,400 by December and underscoring the industry\u2019s critical yet volatile role in sustaining Texas\u2019 energy workforce,\u201d TIPRO noted.<\/p>\n
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In the statement, TIPRO said its workforce data \u201ccontinues to\u00a0indicate strong job postings for the\u00a0Texas oil and natural gas industry\u00a0in December\u201d but added that analysis \u201crevealed a continued decline in Q4 driven by lower oil prices, industry consolidation, and ongoing efficiency gains, which allow companies to maintain or increase production with reduced hiring activity\u201d.<\/p>\n
There were\u00a07,887\u00a0unique industry job postings in Texas during the month of December, compared to 8,619 in November, and 2,957\u00a0new job postings added during the month, TIPRO highlighted in the statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn comparison, the state of Pennsylvania had 2,839\u00a0unique job postings in December, followed by California 2,400, Ohio 2,050, and Illinois 1,985,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
\u201cTIPRO reported a total of 54,284 unique job postings nationwide during the month of December\u00a0within the oil and natural gas industry, including 20,251\u00a0new postings,\u201d it continued.<\/p>\n
TIPRO noted in its statement that, among the 19 specific industry sectors it uses to define the Texas oil and natural gas industry, Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations led in the ranking for unique job listings in December,\u00a0with 1,780\u00a0postings, followed by\u00a0Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores, with 1,559 postings, Petroleum Refineries, with 660 postings, and Crude Petroleum Extraction, with 536 postings. The leading four cities by total unique oil and natural gas job postings were Houston, with 1,911, Midland, with 533, Dallas, with 329, and Odessa, with 279, according to TIPRO.<\/p>\n
The industry body said the top four companies ranked by unique job postings in December\u00a0were Love\u2019s, with 670, Energy Transfer, with 281, ExxonMobil, with 280, and Baker Hughes, with 193.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf the top ten companies listed by unique job postings in December, four\u00a0companies were in the services sector, three\u00a0in the gasoline stations with convenience stores category, two\u00a0[were] midstream companies,\u00a0and\u00a0one\u00a0[was] fully integrated oil and natural gas company,\u201d TIPRO said.<\/p>\n
Top posted industry occupations\u00a0for December\u00a0included maintenance and repair workers general, with 299, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, with 291, and retail salespersons, with 279, according to TIPRO, which said top qualifications for unique job postings in December\u00a0included a valid driver\u2019s license, a commercial driver\u2019s license, and tanker endorsement.<\/p>\n
\u201cTIPRO reports that 38\u00a0percent of unique job postings had no education requirement listed, 34\u00a0percent required a bachelor\u2019s degree and 29\u00a0percent required a high school diploma or GED,\u201d TIPRO noted in its statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were 1,952\u00a0advertised salary observations (25\u00a0percent of the 7,887\u00a0matching postings) with a median salary of $52,100. The highest percentage of advertised salaries (32\u00a0percent) were in the $75,000 to $500,000 range,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
Also in its statement, TIPRO stated that, \u201ceven though the industry\u2019s tax impact has declined slightly in more recent months as a result of shifting market conditions and falling oil prices\u201d, tax contributions by the state\u2019s oil and natural gas industry \u201cstill are significant and continue to provide funding for important state services and programs that include public education, road and highway construction,\u00a0first responders and much more\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to recent data from the Texas comptroller\u2019s office, in December, Texas energy producers paid $394 million in state oil production taxes. Notably, Texas producers also in December paid $169\u00a0million in additional state natural gas production taxes,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
TIPRO pointed out in its statement that, in the fourth quarter of last year, the U.S. oil and natural gas sector \u201cdemonstrated strong operational resilience, achieving record production levels that reinforced America\u2019s position as the world\u2019s leading energy supplier\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cDomestic operators drove annual crude production to a historic high of 13.6 million barrels per day, led by continued efficiency gains in the Permian Basin despite a declining rig count,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
The statement highlighted that Texas producers \u201cplayed a pivotal role in 2025, contributing approximately 42-43 percent of U.S. crude oil production at an average of around 5.8 million barrels per day (with monthly peaks reaching 5.9 million barrels per day), underscoring the state\u2019s unmatched leadership amid persistent market headwinds\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNatural gas markets showed a meaningful rebound late in the quarter, with Henry Hub prices averaging about $3.52 per million British thermal units for the year, a 56 percent increase from 2024 lows, driven by seasonal heating demand and proactive supply management that helped meet winter needs effectively,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTexas natural gas production reached record levels, estimated at nearly 13.6 trillion cubic feet annually, underscoring the state\u2019s critical supply contributions,\u201d TIPRO added.<\/p>\n
TIPRO went on to warn that early indicators for the first quarter of this year show continued challenges for domestic producers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWTI crude oil hovered around $60 per barrel through much of January amid persistent global surplus conditions but has risen sharply in recent days to around $64-$65 due to heightened geopolitical tensions involving Iran and associated supply disruption concerns,\u201d it noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cU.S. oil production remains near 13.6 million barrels per day but is showing early signs of a near-term plateau, with modest declines anticipated as operators maintain disciplined capital allocation in response to lower price realizations and margin compression,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
In the statement, TIPRO President Ed Longanecker said, \u201cTexas producers have once again proven their ability to deliver essential energy reliably even under sustained market pressure\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the cornerstone of U.S. production, Texas continues to lead through innovation, cost discipline and a steadfast focus on operational excellence,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current environment demands careful resource management and realistic expectations. Federal policies that prioritize domestic energy expansion, expedite permitting, and eliminate unnecessary regulatory obstacles will be critical to maintaining investment momentum, protecting jobs and ensuring affordable energy for American families and businesses,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
In a statement sent to Rigzone on January 29, the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA) said Texas upstream oil and gas employment was \u201csteady in 2025, despite market headwinds\u201d.<\/p>\n
TXOGA noted in its statement that, according to data released by the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas upstream oil and gas employment \u201cremained essentially flat in 2025, even as producers continued to deliver strong output amid challenging market conditions\u201d.<\/p>\n
TXOGA added in the statement that, \u201csince the Covid-era low point in September 2020\u201d, Texas upstream oil and natural gas employment has \u201cincreased by more than 44,000 jobs, a 28 percent gain\u201d. The industry body outlined in the statement that this increase \u201cunderscor[es]\u2026 the industry\u2019s continued role as a high-wage employer in the Texas economy\u201d.<\/p>\n
To contact the author, email\u00a0andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com<\/a><\/p>\n
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