Texas Gains Over 26,000 Energy Jobs As It “Shatters” Oil Production Records

February 14, 2019

The Texas economy is booming, thanks in large part to the oil and gas industry.

A new report out this week from the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association finds that Texas has “shattered” the previous oil output record, producing a whopping 1.54 billion barrels in 2018 – a 22% increase. This is the greatest output in 45 years.

This oil boom, driven by increased production in the Permian Basin, has “morphed the Permian into one of the world’s largest and most important oilfields.”

As a result, Texas gained over 26,000 oil and gas industry jobs last year. The energy industry supports over 352,000 jobs in Texas overall.

These are not minimum wage jobs. As CNN Business explains, the average wage for oil and gas industry workers in Texas is over $130,000, “more than double the state’s average private-sector salary.”

This is further proof that the energy industry creates the high-paying jobs Americans need to support their families.

The oil boom in Texas also means that the U.S. is becoming more energy independent, insulating us from potential foreign crises. Last week, OPEC exported a record-low amount of oil to America. Venezuela sent us an “all-time low” amount of oil, while Saudi Arabian crude exports “fell to the lowest since November 2017.”

Thanks to our booming energy industry, America is winning again. We have more, high-quality jobs and less reliance on potentially hostile foreign countries.

It’s critical we continue this momentum and fight for the economic growth our energy industry can provide. Energy workers and the American people win when business is booming, so let’s keep it up, America.