Texas Border Business

AUSTIN, Texas – Citing the latest Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) today highlighted new employment figures showing an increase in upstream employment in Texas in the month of April. According to TIPRO’s analysis, direct Texas upstream employment for April totaled 206,000, an increase of 1,700 industry positions from March employment numbers, subject to revisions. This represented an increase of 900 jobs in the services sector and 800 jobs in oil and gas extraction.

TIPRO’s new workforce data still indicated strong job postings for the Texas oil and natural gas industry, although April data showed a decline in overall unique postings compared to the previous month, despite an increase in new postings. According to the association, there were 8,826 active unique jobs postings for the Texas oil and natural gas industry last month, compared to 10,120 postings in March, and 3,919 new postings, compared to 3,458 in the previous month. In comparison, the state of California had 2,611 unique job postings in April, followed by New York (2,392), Florida (1,744) and Colorado (1,290). TIPRO reported a total of 49,826 unique job postings nationwide last month within the oil and natural gas sector, including 22,744 new postings in April.

Among the 19 specific industry sectors TIPRO uses to define the Texas oil and natural gas industry, Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores led in the ranking for unique job listings in April with 2,158 postings, followed by Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations (2,015) and Petroleum Refineries (775). The leading three cities by total unique oil and natural gas job postings were Houston (2,021), Midland (592) and Odessa (411), said TIPRO.

The top three companies ranked by unique job postings in April were Love’s (665), Cefco (655) and John Wood Group (280), according to the association. Of the top ten companies listed by unique job postings last month, five companies were in the services sector, two in the gasoline stations with convenience stores category, two midstream companies and one oil and gas operator. Top posted industry occupations for April included retail salespersons (411), first-line supervisors of retail sales workers (391), and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (360). The top posted job titles for April included customer service representatives (155), store managers (141), and maintenance technicians (112).

Top qualifications for unique job postings included valid driver’s license (1,574), CDL class a license (300) and hazmat endorsement (166). TIPRO reports that 42 percent of unique job postings had no education requirement listed, 30 percent required a bachelor’s degree and 29 percent required a high school diploma or GED. There were 1,733 advertised salary observations (20 percent of the 8,826 matching postings) with a median salary of $58,200. The highest percentage of advertised salaries (26 percent) were in the $90,000 to $500,000 range.

Additional TIPRO workforce trends data:

• A sample of industry job postings in Texas for April can be viewed here.
• The top three posting sources in April ​included www.indeed.com (4,395), www.simplyhired.com (2,633) andwww.dejobs.org (2,218).

TIPRO also highlights significant tax contributions by the state’s oil and gas industry that continue to offer essential support of government coffers and provide funding for public services. In April, Texas energy producers paid $436 million in oil production taxes, according to data published by the Texas comptroller’s office, up from March 2025. Producers last month also paid $233 million to the state in natural gas production taxes, up 37 percent from a year ago. 

Additionally, TIPRO points to recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) showing U.S. power consumption will hit record highs in 2025 and 2026. In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) report, the EIA has projected power demand will rise to 4,205 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) this year and then increase to 4,252 billion kWh in 2026, from a record 4,097 billion kWh in 2024. The forecasts for surging power demands underscore the need for reliable power generation from domestic energy sources, including oil and natural gas. Energy policies that support greater oil and gas development will continue to prove critical to keep up with the rising power generation needs in the U.S.

TIPRO also emphasizes that energy policy and numerous economic and geopolitical factors continue to impact domestic production and related investment decisions, including, but not limited to, tariffs on steel and aluminum, and the decision from OPEC+ to increase output. In addition to TIPRO’s substantive work on state legislative and regulatory matters, the association continues to monitor federal policy issues facing the Texas oil and natural gas industry. Of note, the House Ways and Means Committee has recently released a comprehensive draft of the GOP’s tax and spending legislation, dubbed the “big, beautiful bill.” The proposed legislation represents a significant shift in U.S. energy policy, emphasizing increased fossil fuel production and a rollback of clean energy initiatives. This expansive proposal not only aims to extend the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts but also includes significant provisions affecting the oil and natural gas sector. As referenced below, the bill is currently advancing through the legislative process. The following are some of the current provisions of relevance to the energy sector.

• Expansion of Federal Fossil Fuel Leasing – At least 30 lease sales are required over the next 15 years in the Gulf of Mexico, now referred to as the “Gulf of America” by the Trump administration, six lease sales are mandated in Alaska’s Cook Inlet, the bill resumes leasing for energy production in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales are reinstated, generating an estimated $12 billion in revenue.  
• Reduction of Royalty Rates – The bill would return royalty rates to 12.5 percent for both onshore and offshore drilling, down from the current 16.67 percent and 18.75 percent, respectively.  
• Streamlining Permitting Processes – The legislation aims to speed up permit approvals for energy projects, thereby reducing bureaucratic delays.  
• Repeal of Clean Energy Incentives – The legislation seeks to rescind clean energy tax credits established under the Inflation Reduction Act, including those for electric vehicles and renewable energy projects. The hydrogen production credit would be curtailed, and “technology neutral” clean energy credits would expire in 2031.  
• Strategic Petroleum Reserve Replenishment – The bill allocates $1.5 billion to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, signaling a commitment to maintaining national energy security.  
• Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) – Included within the bill is a 10-year delay of the MERP, which provides $1.36 billion in financial and technical assistance through multiple funding opportunities, establishes a Waste Emissions Charge (WEC) for methane, and requires EPA to revise the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) subpart W regulations for the oil and gas sector.

The legislative journey of the “big, beautiful bill” is unfolding through the budget reconciliation process, which allows for expedited consideration of certain tax, spending, and debt limit legislation. The House Ways and Means Committee approved the tax provisions of the bill after a marathon session, passing it along party lines. Simultaneously, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the energy-related sections, including the fossil fuel provisions. The approved sections from various committees are being consolidated by the House Budget Committee, which will assemble the full package for a floor vote. The consolidated bill is expected to be brought to the House floor for a vote before Memorial Day. If passed by the House, the bill will proceed to the Senate, where it may face amendments and further debate. The final step would be the bill’s presentation to President Trump for signature into law, with Republicans aiming for this to occur before the July 4 recess.

“TIPRO continues to engage in priority policy issues at all levels of government on behalf of our members and will monitor this significant legislative undertaking closely to ensure that domestic energy production is prioritized, including the protection of key tax provisions utilized by our industry,” said Ed Longanecker, president of TIPRO. “With the exponential growth in energy demand forecasted in the coming years, oil and natural gas will continue to play a dominate role, but we must have the right strategy in place to provide regulatory and economic certainty to our members for the benefit of our country and allies,” added Longanecker.

Information source: The Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO)