Oilfield services jobs edge lower to close 2025, EWTC data shows

(WO) - Energy Workforce & Technology Council said U.S. oilfield services employment edged lower in December 2025, closing out a year marked by workforce adjustment and market uncertainty. 

Energy services employment totaled 629,372 jobs in December, down 184 positions from November, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and EWTC analysis. The December figures cap a year in which employment peaked at just over 640,000 jobs in April before trending lower through the second half of 2025.

By year-end, oilfield services employment was roughly 11,000 jobs below its spring high, representing a year-over-year decline of about 2.3% compared with 2024. EWTC said the moderation reflected a challenging operating environment shaped by market volatility, tariffs, rising costs, and permitting delays, though employment levels remained relatively stable compared with past industry downturns.

Nationally, the U.S. economy added 50,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate fell to 4.4%, according to federal data. Overall employment growth in 2025 was the weakest since the 2020 recession, highlighting broader economic headwinds across multiple sectors.

Texas remained the largest energy services employer in December, followed by Louisiana and Oklahoma, according to EWTC’s state-level breakdown.