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 increased by 1,800 jobs between February and March 2026, reflecting a gain of 600 jobs in oil and natural gas extraction (64,500) and 1,200 jobs in support activities (128,800), subject to revisions.
TIPRO’s workforce analysis continues to indicate strong job postings for the Texas oil and natural gas industry. According to the association, there were 9,110 unique industry job postings in Texas during the month of March, a 7 percent increase compared to February, and 3,913 new job postings added during the month. In comparison, the state of Pennsylvania had 2,970 unique job postings in March, followed by California (2,873), Ohio (2,589) and Illinois (2,146). TIPRO reported a total of 60,130 unique job postings nationwide during the month of March within the oil and natural gas industry, an 11 percent increase compared to February, including 25,907 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 March with 2,265 postings, followed by Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (1,510), Petroleum Refineries (649) and Crude Petroleum Extraction (603). The leading four cities by total unique oil and natural gas job postings were Houston (2,321), Midland (589), Odessa (394) and Dallas (338), said TIPRO.
The top four companies ranked by unique job postings in March were Loves (613), Energy Transfer (281), ExxonMobil (267) and Baker Hughes (267), according to the association. Of the top ten companies listed by unique job postings in March, five companies were in the services sector, two gasoline stations with convenience stores, one midstream company, one in the downstream sector, and one fully integrated oil and natural gas company. Top posted industry occupations for March included retail salespersons (306), maintenance and repair workers general (266), and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (259).
Top qualifications for unique job postings in March included commercial driver’s license (CDL) (216), Master of Business Administration (MBA) (203), and transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) card (171). TIPRO reports that 36 percent of unique job postings required a bachelor’s degree, 34 percent had no education requirement listed, and 30 percent required a high school diploma or GED. There were 2,115 advertised salary observations (23 percent of the 9,110 matching postings) with a median salary of $51,600. The highest percentage of advertised salaries (33 percent) were in the $75,000 to $500,000 range.
Additional TIPRO workforce trends data:
- – A list of unique job postings by state in March can be viewed here.
- – A sample of industry job postings in Texas for March can be viewed here.
- – The top three posting sources in March included www.indeed.com (3,651), www.simplyhired.com (2,385) and www.diversityjobs.com (1,191).
Tax contributions from the oil and gas industry also trended upward between March and April, TIPRO notes. Citing data from the Texas comptroller’s office, state oil production taxes generated $567 million in revenue in April, a $189 million increase over March and 30 percent higher than April 2025 receipts. Natural gas production taxes contributed an additional $223 million to state coffers in April. These revenues provided by the oil and gas industry directly support public programs, education, infrastructure and other essential services across Texas, explains TIPRO.
Further, new data released today by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that domestic oil and natural gas output remains at record-high levels. This trend is particularly significant given the global market implications of continued disruptions to Middle Eastern petroleum and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows, stemming from the war with Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. EIA projections indicate that U.S. crude oil production will average 13.6 million barrels per day this year, increasing to 14.1 million barrels per day in 2027. Meanwhile, U.S. natural gas production also remains elevated. According to the EIA, marketed natural gas production in the Lower 48 rose 4 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. The EIA expects natural gas output in the United States to continue rising through 2027, bolstered by associated gas production driven by high crude oil prices.
“Amid continued global market volatility and international supply disruptions, Texas oil and gas operators remain steadfast in delivering reliable, dependable energy to domestic and international markets. The increase in upstream employment in March also demonstrates the strength and resilience of our industry. By maintaining steady production and responding efficiently to market signals, Texas producers are providing the stable energy supply that families, businesses and allies depend on, reinforcing the importance of American energy security at a critical time.”
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