The relative size of the oil and gas sector in Laredo appears to follow a similar ebb and flow
pattern over time as that in Corpus Christi. Laredo’s current oil and gas employment share is
about half of its peak around 7 percent in the mid-1980s. For the other three metro areas, the
oil and gas sector has been relatively small, accounting for no more than 2 percent of the local
workforce during the past two decades.
OIL IMPACTS
Employment Share in Oil & Gas Activity
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics and author’s calculations.
Despite substantial gains in employment directly related to oil and gas production since 2008,
the South Texas regional workforce has expanded at a more rapid pace since the 1980s and so the
relative significance of oil and gas extraction has diminished for most metro areas, except perhaps
Corpus Christi.
26
Annual Review of South Texas Economy