Oil and gas employment numbers held steady in July

( Photographer: Eddie Seal/Bloomberg)

According to the Energy Workforce & Technology Council in Houston, the July jobs report showed the staying power of the oil and gas services sector.

The report indicated the oil and gas services sector supported 647,559 jobs and had a loss of 201 jobs from June. The numbers are based on the preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also showed that Oklahoma continued with more than 49,000 jobs in the industry.

This slight decrease, after revisions to June data and analysis conducted by the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, reflects a positive trend in the larger overall picture of the oil and gas workforce.

With the national unemployment rate ticked up to 4.3% and job growth across the United States slowed much more than expected, the energy services sector remained relatively steady. The current unemployment rate is at its highest since October 2021, triggering fears of an impending recession.

“The energy industry has navigated through numerous challenges over the past several years with a focus on strategic discipline,” said Energy Workforce President Molly Determan. “While there is concern that tougher times may be on the horizon, our sector’s stability amidst broader economic uncertainties reflects our resilience and commitment to long-term planning. We remain optimistic about the future and confident in our ability to adapt and thrive.”