Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), stated that "operational efficiencies are driving strong production with fewer rigs, which can translate to declining industry job numbers" after the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) released data indicating a drop in Texas upstream oil and gas employment figures.

"Operational efficiencies are driving strong production with fewer rigs, which can translate to declining industry job numbers," said Staples. "Baker Hughes data indicate the national rig count has declined 14 percent from 687 in June 2023 to 588 active rigs in June 2024. By contrast, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates rig productivity gains in excess of 20 percent year-over-year across major shale basins, with many companies maintaining or increasing production despite running fewer rigs."

According to a graph attributed to TWC and shared by TXOGA, upstream oil and gas jobs in Texas for last month registered at nearly 190,000. Almost a decade ago, the figure in December 2014 posted at 308,900.

In June, the release said, upstream oil and gas employment dipped by 2,000 jobs compared to May, marking five out of six months this calendar year that the job count has declined.

Staples said in the release that current and projected demand for oil, available supply levels, and policy decisions affect operational decisions in the industry. He added that policies limiting the development or use of oil and natural gas in transportation, power generation, and exports can also impact Texas, which leads the U.S. in oil and natural gas production.

According to Staples’s biography on the TXOGA website, he has served in his current position since late 2014. Before joining TXOGA, Staples worked in state government, serving as the Texas Agriculture Commissioner and in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives.