In a change of pace for the energy industry, Houston-headquartered Halliburton Co. announced plans to hire more than 200 people for its Permian Basin operations. The oil field services company wants more workers for Odessa and Brownfield, TX; and Artesia, which is located in southeastern New Mexico.

The company reported a 44% decrease in Houston-area jobs between summer 2015 and summer 2016, according to the Houston Business Journal. The decrease resulted from the global oil slump, which began at the end of 2014.

The Permian Basin, however, has been a bright spot for the industry. Baker Hughes reports an increased count in drilling rigs, with recent larger asset land and oil rights sales taking place in and around the area.

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