Release: Texas Upstream Oil and Natural Gas Jobs Continue to Climb in 2022

March 14, 2022

January 2022 jobs up 10% from January 2021

AUSTIN–Last year showed steady recovery for upstream oil and gas employment in Texas and new data from the Texas Workforce Commission confirms that this climb continues. In January 2022, Texas upstream jobs grew by 1,200. Since the low point in employment in September of 2020, job growth months outnumbered decline months 14-to-2 with an average growth of 1,206 jobs per month over that same period.

At 176,300 upstream jobs, January 2022 jobs are up by 16,000, or 10%, from January of 2021.  Since the low point in September of 2020, industry has added 19,300 Texas upstream jobs. 

 

“In Fiscal Year 2021, the oil and natural gas industry directly employed over 422,000 Texans with jobs that pay among the highest wages in Texas and we should all be encouraged to see this upward trend continue in 2022,” said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association. “For every direct job, an additional 2.2 indirect jobs are created elsewhere in the economy, which means you don’t have to be employed by the oil and natural gas industry to benefit from the tremendous economic prosperity and opportunities the industry brings Texas.”

 

The upstream sector involves oil and natural gas extraction and excludes other industry sectors such as refining, petrochemicals, fuels wholesaling, oilfield equipment manufacturing, pipelines, and gas utilities, which support hundreds of thousands of additional jobs in Texas. The employment shown also includes “Support Activities for Mining,” which is mostly oil and gas-related but also includes some small amount of other types of mining.

+++

Founded in 1919, TXOGA is the oldest and largest oil and gas trade association in Texas representing every facet of the industry.

Stay Updated

Get quick updates in our e‑newsletter.

Related Updates

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission has released employment data through April 2026, showing that upstream oil and gas employment increased by 400 jobs in April compared with the revised March data. This amounts to two months of consecutive job increases since February. Total upstream employment stood at 193,200 jobs in April 2026. Relative to

June 5, 2026

Check out our Month in Review for May to see how TXOGA was busy advocating for the Texas oil and natural gas industry.                 RECOMMENDED READING US drillers add oil/gas rigs for fourth week in a row, says Baker Hughes U.S. LNG Is Becoming the Backbone of Global

June 1, 2026

AUSTIN – The Texas Oil & Gas Association’s (TXOGA) Workers’ Compensation Safety Group today announced that member companies have earned a collective $1.65 million in safety group dividends from Texas Mutual Insurance Company. The dividend recognizes the group’s continued strong performance and commitment to maintaining a low loss ratio through rigorous workplace safety practices.

May 28, 2026

AUSTIN, TEXAS – A coalition of leading Texas business trade associations today issued a joint statement strongly objecting to the increasing interference of outside influencers and proxy advisory firms attempting to dissuade companies from redomiciling in the Lone Star State. The Texas Association of Business, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Texas Oil and Gas Association, Texas

May 14, 2026

The Texas Workforce Commission has released employment data through March 2026, showing that upstream oil and gas employment increased by 1,800 jobs in March compared with February. Total upstream employment stood at 193,300 jobs in March 2026. Relative to the same month one year earlier, employment is down by 7,100 jobs, representing a drop of

May 11, 2026

Subscribe to our mailing list!

Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on all the latest news and events.

NOTE: Fields with an asterisk * are required.

Contact us

If you are interested in Affiliate Membership please complete the form and we will be in touch shortly.

NOTE: Fields with an asterisk * are required.

Contact us

If you are interested in Formula Membership please complete the form and we will be in touch shortly.

NOTE: Fields with an asterisk * are required.