Austin, Texas – Citing the latest Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) today highlighted new employment figures for the Texas oil and natural gas industry. According to TIPRO, employment in the Texas upstream sector decreased between December 2025 and January 2026, with oil and natural gas extraction jobs declining by 600 to 64,300 and support activities employment remaining flat with 128,600 employed.
TIPRO’s workforce data continues to indicate strong job postings for the Texas oil and natural gas industry in January following a decline in Q4 2025. According to the association, there were 8,644 unique industry job postings in Texas during the month of January, a 10 percent increase from December, and 3,846 new job postings added during the month. In comparison, the state of California had 2,573 unique job postings in January, followed by Pennsylvania (2,551), Ohio (2,321), and Illinois (2,027). TIPRO reported a total of 57,197 unique job postings nationwide during the month of January within the oil and natural gas industry, including 23,072 new postings.
Among the 19 specific industry sectors TIPRO 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 January with 1,902 postings, followed by Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (1,708), Petroleum Refineries (699) and Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas (633). The leading four cities by total unique oil and natural gas job postings were Houston (2,037), Midland (594), Dallas (347) and Odessa (346), said TIPRO.
The top four companies ranked by unique job postings in January were Love’s (846), Energy Transfer (391), ExxonMobil (284) and Baker Hughes (239), according to the association. Of the top ten companies listed by unique job postings in January, five companies were in the services sector, two in the gasoline stations with convenience stores category, two midstream companies and one fully integrated oil and natural gas company. Top posted industry occupations for January included retail salespersons (378), maintenance and repair workers general (302), and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (285).
Top qualifications for unique job postings in January included valid driver’s license (1,645), commercial driver’s license (CDL) (225) and CDL Class A License (169). TIPRO reports that 37 percent of unique job postings had no education requirement listed, 34 percent required a bachelor’s degree and 29 percent required a high school diploma or GED. There were 2,094 advertised salary observations (24 percent of the 8,644 matching postings) with a median salary of $50,800. The highest percentage of advertised salaries (31 percent) were in the $75,000 to $500,000 range.
Additional TIPRO workforce trends data:
- A list of unique job postings by state in January can be viewed here.
- A sample of industry job postings in Texas for January can be viewed here.
- The top three posting sources in January included www.indeed.com (3,084), www.simplyhired.com (2,325) and www.diversityjobs.com (1,040).
Tax contributions by the state’s oil and natural gas industry topped $565 million in February, says TIPRO, citing data from the Texas comptroller’s office. The state collected $384 million in oil production tax revenue in February, up marginally from January, and also took in an additional $181 million that same month in revenue from natural gas production taxes, a slight decline from January. Funding generated by state oil and natural gas production taxes is used to support public schools, universities, roads, infrastructure and other essential public services, notes TIPRO.
TIPRO also highlights findings from the association’s recent ‘2026 State of Energy’ Report demonstrating how the industry continues to offer significant economic support, despite facing a number of unique challenges and market volatility. Direct Gross Regional Product (GRP) for the Texas oil and natural gas industry last year was $385 billion, supporting 36 percent of the state economy, mentions TIPRO. The Texas oil and natural gas industry also purchased U.S. goods and services in the amount of $263 billion in 2025, 81 percent of which came from Texas businesses, TIPRO adds. See other noteworthy insights from TIPRO’s report and analysis here.
The escalation of tensions with Iran into broader conflict in early 2026 has introduced significant global energy market vulnerabilities. Early January geopolitical risks contributed to modest price premiums, but subsequent military actions and disruptions, particularly the near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG flows, triggered the largest supply shock in modern history. As a result, Brent and WTI prices surged dramatically, exceeding 100 to 120 dollars per barrel by March 2026. For Texas operators, the higher price environment alleviates margin compression, improves cash flows, and could catalyze renewed investment in drilling, completions, and midstream infrastructure. This in turn supports workforce stability and potential job growth in upstream and related sectors, reinforcing Texas’s role as a reliable domestic supplier capable of quickly responding to global signals. However, the volatility also highlights risks of prolonged uncertainty, reinforcing the need for disciplined capital allocation.
The following statement can be attributed to Ed Longanecker, president of TIPRO:
“Texas oil and gas producers remain the backbone of American energy dominance. Our state’s leadership in energy policy, innovation, efficiency, and operational excellence has enabled sustained production levels alongside disciplined workforce management. It is essential that federal policies support expanded domestic development through streamlined permitting, reduced regulatory burdens, and pro-energy initiatives. These measures will safeguard high-paying jobs across Texas, bolster investment, expand critical infrastructure, and ensure affordable, secure energy for the nation and our allies.”
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