The US Energy Information Administration’s “Today in Energy” publication, out this morning, sheds some light on the relationship between the energy sector and job growth. While the trend that it highlights is not new, especially to outfits like industry groups API and Independent Petroleum Association of America, what is different in this case is that the EIA does not take policy positions.

“From the start of 2007 through the end of 2012, total U.S. private sector employment increased by more than one million jobs, about 1%. Over the same period, the oil and natural gas industry increased by more than 162,000 jobs, a 40% increase.”

The difference in percentages is pretty stark. Just for additional context, while the US private sector added about 1 million jobs from 2007 to 2012, the oil and gas industry added 162,000, accounting for about 16% of job additions over the period in question.