Upstream employment in Texas’ oil and gas industry posted modest gains in March, according to new data analyzed by the Texas Oil and Gas Association.
The state added 1,800 upstream oil and gas jobs during the month, based on figures from the Texas Workforce Commission. In Houston, the energy sector added 200 oil and gas extraction jobs, according to the Greater Houston Partnership.
The increase comes as oil companies continue weighing production decisions amid global uncertainty tied to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Many Texas energy producers had previously expressed caution about ramping up output, noting that expanding production takes time and that geopolitical disruptions affecting oil supply are often temporary.
Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, said sustained higher oil prices in recent months may now be influencing production activity.
“I think the continued depletion of the storage of oil both in private and public sectors has motivated some companies to expand their production,” Staples said.
Still, Staples cautioned that companies remain uncertain about the long-term market outlook as the conflict evolves.
“I don’t think you’re going to see any abrupt moves because once normality returns, you’ll have to determine what the market looks like,” he said.
Texas overall added more than 46,000 nonfarm jobs in March, posting a slightly faster job growth rate than the national average. Houston alone gained 16,400 jobs during the same period.