U.S. oil and gas jobs increased slightly in May as companies remain focused on debt
American energy technology and services sector employment increased by an estimated 9,707 jobs in May, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and analysis by the Energy Workforce & Technology Council.
The 1.6% growth comes after the sector added nearly 17,700 positions in March and April. According to BLS data, the sector has added more than 27,000 jobs over the past three months after hitting a pandemic low of 591,413 jobs in February.
The monthly Energy Technology and Services Employment Report, compiled and published by the Council, estimates a peak of nearly 102,000 pandemic-related job losses. Since then, the sector has restored approximately 14,000 positions, bringing total pandemic employment cuts to almost 88,000 jobs and more than $9.9 billion in annualized lost wages.
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Using BLS data, the Council, in consultation with researchers from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, found that reductions were heaviest in April 2020, when the sector shed 57,294 jobs — the largest one-month total since at least 2013.
Sector employment has remained fairly flat in 2021 as companies have focused on reducing debt, repaying investors and focusing on research and development instead of boosting production. Employment in the sector is down 13.8% since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.
The Council is the national trade association for the energy technology and services sector representing 600,000 jobs in the technology-driven energy value chain. More than 600 member companies are involved in energy equipment manufacturing, drilling, well completions, well services, pressure pumping, renewable energy technology and servicing, geothermal development, and more.
The innovative men and women who comprise this sector are leaders in developing and deploying innovative technologies on a global scale that increase efficiency, improve environmental performance, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Below are the top states for employment in the energy technology and services sector, according to BLS data:
Texas — 303,000
Louisiana — 51,800
Oklahoma — 47,300
Colorado — 25,200
New Mexico — 23,200
California — 22,700
Pennsylvania — 22,500
North Dakota — 19,300
Wyoming — 14,400
Ohio — 10,314
Alaska — 9,600
West Virginia — 9,500
Energy technology and services sector employment is estimated by analyzing data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and covers the economic activities of energy technology and services companies, which include oil and gas extraction, construction and manufacturing. Total employment is estimated using the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, published by BLS, and jobs data reported by BLS monthly.
Note: BLS data is preliminary for the two most recent months and is subject to revision. The Council incorporates monthly totals according to BLS corrections, and updates the statistical model quarterly.
