Employment in the Oil and Gas Well Drilling Industry

 

 
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Employment in the oil and gas well drilling industry accounted for 63,012 jobs in September 2009, which is the most recent period available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program.

Gulf Coast employment in this industry is most concentrated in a number of Texas counties and Louisiana parishes. Drilling accounts for a much larger share of employment in these localities than is the case for the Nation as a whole.

Nearly a quarter (23.6 percent) of total U.S. Employment in this industry is in Harris County, Texas (Houston), which accounts for 14,881 jobs and 0.9 percent of private sector employment in that county. Drilling's share of Harris County employment is almost 15 times its share of the national total, also known as a location quotient.

Lafayette Parish (Lafayette) had 3.2 percent of U.S. employment in this industry. Drilling accounted for 2,014 jobs and 1.8 percent of Lafayette's private sector employment. Oil and gas well drilling's share of Lafayette Parish employment is 30 times its share of the national total.

The Baker Hughes company reported 1,281 active rigs in 2009, of which 55 were offshore^. QCEW employment reflects the reported place of employment, which may not be the physical location of work. Drilling employment is not available separately for land and offshore operations.

More information on employment and wages in the oil and gas extraction industries are available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/cew or by telephone at (202) 691-6567.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), April 23, 2010. Employment data are from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.