A new report from the Energy Workforce & Technology Council for July showed another decline in energy sector employment in Oklahoma as well as other states in the region.
A cooling in the U.S. labor market? It’s what the council suggests as it explained total jobs in the sector declined slightly to 633,938, a month-over-month decrease of 1,852 positions from June, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Energy Workforce analysis.
Oklahoma’s energy workforce was 48,329 in early July, but slipped by 86 workers by the end of the month to 48,243 total. The state has experienced a decline of more than 1,400 energy workers since November 2024.
At the national level, the U.S. economy added 73,000 jobs in July, well below expectations, and the unemployment rate held flat at 4.2%, according to data released by the Labor Department. The slowdown reflects ongoing uncertainty driven by trade policy shifts, inflation pressures, and global economic headwinds.
“While we continue to see a modest recalibration in energy services employment, the sector remains stable and focused on long-term growth,” said Energy Workforce President Molly Determan. “Our members are preparing for the next phase of growth and continuing to deliver the critical expertise that powers American energy security.”