Oilfield workers are leaving. That part is real. But the bigger story is more complicated. The latest 2026 U.S. Energy & Employment Report (USEER) estimates that employment in the U.S. fuels sector fell by 3% in 2025 — about 28,400 jobs. Employment in petroleum fuels fell by 16,300, while natural gas fuels employment declined by 9,800. At the same time, oil and gas companies have continued finding ways to increase production while using fewer rigs, more automation and more s