Upstream oil and gas producers in Texas continued to add jobs in August, according to a new report.
Data from the Texas Workforce Commission show oil and natural gas exploration and production employment increased by 400 jobs in August from July.
Total upstream employment was 195,900 in August 2026, up 500 jobs from a year earlier.
“One of the best hedges against geopolitical shocks is controlling your own energy supply. The men and women who explore, drill, and produce are an integral reason Texas leads the nation in energy production and why America remains the world’s leader in delivering safe, reliable energy,” Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, said in a statement.
Upstream employment in the oil and natural gas industry refers to jobs focused on locating and extracting energy resources.
According to the Texas Oil and Gas Association, the economic reach of the Texas upstream sector extends much further. These upstream positions support an additional 232,000 indirect jobs within the supply chain and 420,000 induced jobs supported by household spending across the economy. In total, the upstream oil and natural gas sector sustains 848,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs.
Since September 2020, Texas upstream oil and gas employment has increased by 38,900 jobs, a gain of nearly 25%.