Unemployment Falling in San Antonio and Surrounding Areas

The Eagle Ford is contributing to a welcomed drop in unemployment across South Texas and we don't expect that to let up any time soon. The jobless rate in the San Antonio metropolitan area dropped from 8 to just 7.5% between September and October.  That compares favorably to a national rate of 9% in October.  The oil and gas industry has helped shield the Texas economy from the jobless rate extremes other parts of the nation have experienced. If you're looking for a career change, we have 100s of jobs listed at our Eagle Ford Jobs page.

San Antonio area employers added 1,400 non-agricultural jobs to their payrolls over the month and 8,100 jobs over the past 12 months. Officials with Workforce Solutions Alamo are attributing the reduction in unemployment, in large part, to job growth in the oil and gas industry.

Oil and gas industry jobs grew 17.7 percent over the past year in the Alamo region, the largest job growth rate for this industry since 2001. About 100 jobs were added between September and October and 600 jobs were added since this time last year.

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Small Business Development Center Opens in Carrizo Springs

The Rural Business Program, part of the UTSA Small Business Development Center, is scheduled to open a SBDC Information Center in Carrizo Springs. The new center will office with the Middle Rio Grande Development Workforce Solutions offices at 307 West Nopal St. The center will reinforce efforts to help communities become sustainable during the ongoing oil and gas extraction projects in the Eagle Ford Shale region. An open house commemorating the SBDC Information Center opening will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17. The public is invited to attend the special ceremony and listen to presentations on small business opportunities within the Eagle Ford Shale area. 

The Eagle Ford Shale provides more than 12,000 workers with full-time jobs. Communities are welcoming the growth brought by the activity that includes challenges associated with the dramatic economic upturn.

"The Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas play will bring economic prosperity to the region and for the state," said Gil Gonzalez, director of the SBDC Rural Business Program at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

 

Job Creation Isn't Slowing in the Eagle Ford

Job creation isn't slowing down. In fact, we really need the number of qualified applicants to increase. Chesapeake hired 34 new employees on the spot at a job fair last week. (There's a job fair today - November 15th - in Floresville from 9:30-3:30) If you are looking for work, you should at least explore the industry. There's not much we don't need in the oilfield. Also, check out our Jobs Page where there are 100s of jobs.

The jobs range from welders to truck drivers to electricians to engineers.

“You name it. Up and down the line, we'll take those people," said Haynes.

Alamo Community Colleges are also playing a big role, customizing training programs to fit the need of the employers.

"We are not having to do a lot of major changes it's more tuning in what we are already providing, " said Dr. Bruce Leslie, chancellor of Alamo Colleges.

"We can offer that person the opportunity to work in this industry to progress in this industry and offer that person not only a comfortable living but a retirement," Haynes said.

 

Oilfield Job Creation is Outpacing Projections in Bexar County

Oilfield job creation is outpacing expectations in Bexar County. An economist at UTSA expected 4,000 direct jobs in San Antonio by 2020 and is revising his number UP to 6,000. The industry is going to reshape the economic climate in South Texas. Don't forget that San Antonio doesn't sit atop the Eagle Ford either. The number of jobs created across the shale play will be multiples of the Bexar County (San Antonio) number Check out available positions at the Eagle Ford Shale Jobs Board.

UTSA Senior Economist Javier Oyakawa, the author of the widely quoted Eagle Ford Shale economic-impact study, says he expects the oil and gas play to create at least 6,000 jobs here by 2020 rather than the originally forecasted 3,900.

“From what we’ve seen so far, it’s time to rethink our numbers,” he says. “Several companies are going to be opening offices here"

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