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Lower oil prices are taking a toll on employment in the oil and gas sector.

Employment in mining, a category that includes oil and gas, fell by 11,000 in March. So far this year, the industry has lost 30,000 jobs. It added 41,000 jobs in 2014.

Support services include companies working on a contract or for set fees and may be the easiest to add or cut when times get tough.

The Labor Department on Friday said mining sector employment losses in the first quarter of this year have been concentrated in support activities.

Oil futures peaked close to $100 a barrel in June but have since fallen below $50.

Related reading:

Jobs Report: U.S. Adds 126,000 Jobs; Unemployment Steady at 5.5%

Interactive Graphic: Job Market Tracker

March Jobs Report By The Numbers

The March Jobs Report in 11 Charts

Economists React to the March Jobs Report: ‘Bottom Line: Ouch’

Why Are Wages Growing Slowly Despite McDonald’s, Wal-Mart Raises?

For Fed, Question of Whether Jobs Weakness Will Continue or Prove an Aberration

A Roadmap to the Fed’s Thinking on the Jobs Report

Kathleen Madigan: Don’t Angst Too Much Over One Weak Jobs Report

March Jobs Report: Everything You Need to Know

 

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