The Texas oil and natural gas industry added 4,100 upstream jobs in May, notching its third consecutive month of employment gains, the Texas Oil & Gas Association announced in a July 9 news release. The figures come from Texas Workforce Commission employment data covering the period through May 2026.
The upstream sector covers exploration and production, the segment of the industry responsible for finding and extracting oil and natural gas. According to the association, sustained hiring in that segment carries outsized weight for the state economy because each upstream position supports additional employment throughout the supply chain and beyond.
“Exploration and production jobs are the foundation of the oil and natural gas industry, and three straight months of gains reflect the strength and skill of the men and women who keep this critical industry running around the clock,” TXOGA President Todd Staples said in the release.
Staples added that more jobs within the industry “enhances the quality of life across Texas communities and boosts the standard of living.” As demand for reliable energy grows at home and abroad, he said, prioritizing domestic production will continue to support job creation, grow the economy and strengthen America’s energy security.
Beyond direct employment, upstream positions support an additional 232,000 indirect jobs within the supply chain and 421,000 induced jobs generated by income spent across the economy, according to the release. In total, the association estimates the upstream oil and natural gas sector sustains more than 850,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs statewide.
The May gains also extend a longer recovery from the industry’s pandemic-era trough. Since the low point in September 2020, Texas upstream oil and gas employment has increased by 40,500 jobs, a gain of nearly 26 percent, the association noted.
Founded in 1919, TXOGA is the oldest and largest oil and natural gas trade association in Texas, representing every facet of the industry. With energy demand projected to keep climbing, the association said continued domestic production will remain central to job creation and economic growth across the state.