Oil field services industry adds 2,300 jobs

Companies that provide equipment, labor and technology for oil and gas drilling continue to add workers, but employment in the oil-field services sector remains below pre-pandemic levels.

In November, employment in oil field services and equipment ticked up by more than 2,300 jobs nationwide to 645,486, according to preliminary federal data analyzed by the industry group Energy Workforce and Technology Council.

“The latest increase in our sector is very encouraging,” said Energy Workforce CEO Leslie

Beyer. “We now have almost gained back all the jobs lost since March of 2020 when the pandemic began to significantly hit the labor market.”

Employment in the sector has inched back up to its highest level since the pandemic hit in March of 2020, but still sits about 60,000 below February 2020 numbers.

Texas is consistently the largest employer in the country for oil field services workers.

The group estimates Texas is home to nearly 315,000 oil field services jobs, a more than 9 percent boost from the 287,000 in the beginning of the year.