The U.S. oil and gas industry is producing more than ever—yet employing far fewer people, a shift that signals a permanent break from the sector’s old boom-and-bust playbook.  Bloomberg reports that roughly 40% of oil field jobs have disappeared since 2014, even as U.S. output has surged nearl y 50% to a record 13.8 million barrels a day. New drilling technologies, automation and a wave of mergers have allowed companies to pump far more oil with less than one-third of the rigs and far fewer workers, a level of “brutal efficiency” that industry veterans say is unlikely to reverse. Major producers including Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Exxon cut jobs again in 2025, and even a return of a pro-drilling White House is unlikely to revive hiring.  With oil hovering near break-even prices, companies are prioritizing profits over payrolls—leaving displaced workers like geologist Shaun Carter permanently on the sidelines and reshaping the future of energy employment. Read the full story.  US Senate race If U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow were to enter the U.S. Senate race, do you think she could unseat Sen. Bill Cassidy? Yes No Not sure Δ ...read more read less