Preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and analysis by the Energy Workforce & Technology Council (EWTC) shows a slight decrease—about 3,260 jobs—in oilfield services (OFS) sector employment. The data is based on BLS’ April jobs report, released on May 3.

However, EWTC, a national trade association for the global energy technology and services sector, said the OFS job market may still have potential for growth.

In April, the OFS sector reported 651,424 jobs, a slight decrease from March’s adjusted jobs report of 654,688.

Oilfield Service Sector Jobs by State
(Source: Energy Workforce & Technology Council)

The U.S. job market reported minimal gains at the national scale, with only 175,000 jobs added, according to BLS. The national unemployment rate ticked up from 3.8% to 3.9%.

“With market dynamics continually evolving, EWTC remains dedicated to fostering innovation and resilience within the energy services sector,” said EWTC President Molly Determan. “While our latest report aligns our sector with national employment trends, we see an opportunity to redouble our efforts to advance technology, upskill our workforce and drive sustainable growth.”