Texas Oil and Gas Employment Declines, But TIPRO Sees Future Growth
The Texas oil and natural gas industry saw a decline in employment for the second consecutive month, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Current Employment Statistics (CES) report shows that upstream employment decreased by 1,200 jobs between June and July 2026, with a drop of 300 jobs in oil and natural gas extraction and 900 service sector jobs.
The Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) highlighted these figures, noting that despite the decline, upstream employment is still up 3,400 jobs for the year. The association also pointed out that the spring hiring surge may have run its course due to elevated but volatile oil prices connected to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.
However, TIPRO believes that the trend will resume soon, citing continued strength in upstream job postings as a signal of future growth. The association reported 10,951 unique industry job postings in Texas during July, with 4,363 new job postings added during the month.