What’s driving Texas? Oil/gas manufacturing spurs jobs

TEXAS – Industrial employment grew 2.5 percent in Texas from May 2013 to May 2014, marking the third straight year the Lone Star State gained manufacturing jobs, according to data from Manufacturers’ News Inc.

Texas added 31,198 industrial jobs during that period, meaning the state is now home to 22,567 manufacturers employing more than 1.2 million workers.

The oil-and-gas extraction industry led Texas’ industrial job growth with a 10.7 percent increase. With hiring driven by robust activity in the Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin energy basins, the industry now accounts for 133,448 jobs.

Industrial machinery and equipment — the state’s largest sector by employment with 186,490 jobs — grew 4.3 since May 2013. The fabricated metals sector grew jobs by 2.4 percent, bringing its total employment to 123,617.

Houston had the largest gain in manufacturing employment among Texas cities, adding 261,900 workers for a 4.7 increase this year.