Oil and gas jobs hold relatively steady despite rising U.S. unemployment rate, Energy Workforce reports

(WO) – Energy Workforce & Technology Council released their monthly jobs report for July, proving the staying power of the oil and gas services sector.

In July of 2024, the U.S. oil field services sector supported 647,559 jobs, with a loss of 201 jobs from June, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 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.”

State-by-state breakdown

TX - 315,556

LA - 54,071

OK - 49,279

CO - 26,291

NM - 24,219

CA - 23,701

PA - 23,442

ND - 20,139

WY - 15,023

OH - 10,749

AK - 10,037

WV - 9,908

Energy Workforce & Technology Council is the national trade association for the global energy technology and services sector, representing more than 650,000 U.S. jobs in the technology-driven energy value chain.