A line chart showing the price per barrel of West Texas intermediate crude oil and the percentage change in oil and gas employment from a year ago, from July 1997 through July 2002.
In July 1997, the price of a barrel of oil was $19.63; employment was at plus 5.6 percent from year-ago levels. In July 1998, the price of a barrel of oil was $13.36; employment was at minus 1.2 percent from year-ago levels. In July 1999, the price of a barrel of oil was $17.89; employment was at minus 14.8 percent from year-ago levels. In July 2000, the price of a barrel of oil was $28.78; employment was at plus 3.2 percent from year-ago levels. In July 2001, the price of a barrel of oil was $27.47; employment was at plus 9.7 percent from year-ago levels. In July 2002, the price of a barrel of oil was $25.52; employment was at minus 2.4 percent from year-ago levels.