Employment in the U.S. oilfield services (OFS) sector ticked up in May as growth in support roles and equipment fabrication offset declines in extraction, pipeline construction and manufacturing, according to estimates by the Energy Workforce & Technology Council.

ofs employment

The sector grew by 1.6% in May, racking up an additional 9,707 jobs over April, according to the Council’s figures. The estimates are based on monthly and quarterly employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

“Sector employment has remained fairly flat in 2021 as companies have focused on reducing debt, repaying investors and focusing on research and development instead of boosting production,” according to the monthly report. The organization represents 600 member companies in the OFS...