Employment in the U.S. oilfield services and equipment sector rose by an estimated 2,566 jobs to 640,767 in September after adjustments to August numbers, according to an Energy Workforce & Technology Council analysis of federal data.

OFS Jobs

The advance continued a trend as the industry rebounds from the slowdown imposed in 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic. But the pace of gains in the sector did slow, as did job growth overall last month, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

“As the energy services sector continues to rebuild the workforce from pandemic losses, the September increases are encouraging in the face of lower job increases across the country,” said council CEO Leslie Beyer.

Initial BLS data had shown that oilfield services and equipment...