Texas Upstream Sector Adds 4,100 May Jobs as Energy Demand Lifts Tax Haul 64%
Updated
Updated · Texas Border Business · Jun 19
Texas Upstream Sector Adds 4,100 May Jobs as Energy Demand Lifts Tax Haul 64%
2 articles · Updated · Texas Border Business · Jun 19
Summary
Texas upstream oil and gas employment rose by 4,100 jobs from April to May, as service companies added 4,400 positions and extraction shed 300, bringing the sector to 197,500 jobs.
10,409 unique Texas job postings in May—up 6% from April—pointed to continued hiring, led by support activities for oil and gas operations, with Houston posting 2,698 openings.
$677 million in Texas oil production taxes was paid in May, up more than $100 million from April and 64% above a year earlier; producers also paid $217 million in natural gas taxes.
Record U.S. crude and petroleum product net exports of 5.8 million barrels a day in April, with May near that level, reflected stronger demand after Strait of Hormuz disruptions tightened global supply.
EIA expects U.S. crude and product net exports to average 4.2 million b/d in 2026 and LNG exports to reach 16.4 bcf/d, reinforcing Texas' role as a key global supplier even after the Iran ceasefire.