January 4, 2019
AUSTIN – Data from the Texas Workforce Commission shows that upstream* oil and natural gas employment fell by 500 jobs in November compared to October, ending a 23-month long consecutive increase in upstream job growth.
“We have seen tremendous growth in the oil and natural gas industry in Texas, including consistent job expansion, but growth is not guaranteed. The industry is vitally important to our state’s economy and national security, and innovation, efficiency and policies that encourage safe and responsible development are the keys to weathering fluctuations in the market,” said Todd Staples, president of TXOGA.
The Current Employment Statistics (CES) data series used to calculate employment figures is frequently revised for the most recent year or two of data, especially on a month-by-month basis, according to the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA). “It is possible that this 500-job variation could be revised in the next few months, either upward or downward,” Staples continued.
* Upstream activity includes oil and natural gas extraction and support activities for mining and excludes other industry sectors such as refining, petrochemicals, fuels wholesaling, oilfield equipment manufacturing, pipelines, and gas utilities.
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