Texas Adds More Than 17,000 Jobs in May
Press Releases
AUSTIN ⎯ Texas reached a total of 14,419,200 nonfarm jobs after adding 17,800 positions in May. Over the year, the state added 98,000 jobs for an annual growth rate of 0.7 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.4 percentage points.
Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,901,600 after adding 6,800 people over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 43,500 people.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas remained stable at 4.3 percent.
“The addition of more than 17,000 positions in May highlights the industriousness of Texas employers and expanding opportunities for Texas’ highly skilled workforce,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “Driven by our entrepreneurial spirit, Texas continues to outpace the nation in job growth, and TWC offers a wide variety of programs to maintain this momentum.”
The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities industry had the largest private sector over-the-month increase in May after adding 7,100 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality added 3,900 jobs over the month while Mining and Logging added 3,800. Construction posted the highest annual growth rate of any major industry for the 22nd month in a row at 2.1 percent in May.
“As our labor force continues to experience positive over-the-year growth, we are ensuring Texas workers have more paths than ever to build rewarding careers,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “TWC remains committed to increasing the availability of apprenticeships, internships, and skills training programs that prepare our workforce for the high-demand roles of the future.”
The Midland metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.1 percent in May. It was followed by the Abilene and San Angelo MSAs, which registered at 3.4 percent.
“The growth we are seeing in Texas trades and industries highlights the outstanding talent and expanding opportunities available to Texans,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett. “As Texas continues to grow, we support and partner with business, community, and workforce leaders across our state to help job seekers connect with employers searching for new talent.”
Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. *All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit TexasLMI.com.
The Texas Labor Market Information Data for June is scheduled to be released on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
| May 2026 | April 2026 | May 2025 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | |
| United States | 169,801.0 | 162,897.0 | 6,904.0 | 4.1 | 169,548.0 | 162,781.0 | 6,768.0 | 4.0 | 170,216.0 | 163,401.0 | 6,815.0 | 4.0 |
| Texas | 15,916.0 | 15,238.1 | 677.9 | 4.3 | 15,867.6 | 15,235.0 | 632.6 | 4.0 | 15,807.4 | 15,182.2 | 625.2 | 4.0 |
| Abilene | 89.7 | 86.6 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 89.4 | 86.7 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 88.9 | 85.9 | 2.9 | 3.3 |
| Amarillo | 140.0 | 135.2 | 4.9 | 3.5 | 139.6 | 135.1 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 139.6 | 135.4 | 4.2 | 3.0 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | 1,565.3 | 1,510.0 | 55.3 | 3.5 | 1,560.0 | 1,507.6 | 52.4 | 3.4 | 1,549.7 | 1,499.0 | 50.7 | 3.3 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | 185.1 | 175.1 | 10.0 | 5.4 | 184.4 | 174.9 | 9.4 | 5.1 | 183.1 | 174.2 | 8.9 | 4.9 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | 189.2 | 176.7 | 12.4 | 6.6 | 188.5 | 176.8 | 11.7 | 6.2 | 190.4 | 176.9 | 13.5 | 7.1 |
| College Station-Bryan | 157.0 | 151.4 | 5.7 | 3.6 | 156.6 | 151.7 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 156.0 | 150.7 | 5.3 | 3.4 |
| Corpus Christi | 214.2 | 204.7 | 9.5 | 4.4 | 213.5 | 204.7 | 8.8 | 4.1 | 213.0 | 204.3 | 8.7 | 4.1 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | 4,569.1 | 4,384.9 | 184.2 | 4.0 | 4,556.5 | 4,384.1 | 172.5 | 3.8 | 4,539.5 | 4,371.6 | 167.9 | 3.7 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving MD | 3,114.3 | 2,987.8 | 126.5 | 4.1 | 3,108.2 | 2,989.3 | 118.9 | 3.8 | 3,094.9 | 2,979.8 | 115.1 | 3.7 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine MD | 1,454.8 | 1,397.1 | 57.7 | 4.0 | 1,448.4 | 1,394.8 | 53.6 | 3.7 | 1,444.5 | 1,391.8 | 52.8 | 3.7 |
| Eagle Pass | 25.4 | 23.2 | 2.2 | 8.6 | 25.3 | 23.1 | 2.2 | 8.5 | 25.2 | 22.7 | 2.5 | 10.0 |
| El Paso | 422.7 | 404.6 | 18.1 | 4.3 | 421.5 | 404.6 | 16.9 | 4.0 | 419.8 | 402.4 | 17.4 | 4.2 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | 3,912.5 | 3,733.5 | 178.9 | 4.6 | 3,895.3 | 3,727.4 | 167.9 | 4.3 | 3,886.2 | 3,722.0 | 164.3 | 4.2 |
| Killeen-Temple | 205.8 | 196.0 | 9.8 | 4.8 | 205.1 | 196.0 | 9.1 | 4.4 | 204.6 | 195.7 | 9.0 | 4.4 |
| Laredo | 121.7 | 116.2 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 121.4 | 116.3 | 5.1 | 4.2 | 121.4 | 115.9 | 5.6 | 4.6 |
| Longview | 129.6 | 123.6 | 6.0 | 4.6 | 129.1 | 123.6 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 129.5 | 123.9 | 5.5 | 4.3 |
| Lubbock | 188.0 | 181.2 | 6.8 | 3.6 | 187.6 | 181.6 | 6.1 | 3.2 | 186.6 | 180.4 | 6.2 | 3.3 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | 406.4 | 381.4 | 25.0 | 6.1 | 405.3 | 382.4 | 23.0 | 5.7 | 402.9 | 378.9 | 24.0 | 5.9 |
| Midland | 106.6 | 103.2 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 105.9 | 102.8 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 107.0 | 103.8 | 3.1 | 2.9 |
| Odessa | 87.8 | 84.4 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 87.3 | 84.1 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 88.0 | 85.0 | 3.1 | 3.5 |
| San Angelo | 62.1 | 60.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 62.1 | 60.2 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 61.7 | 59.7 | 1.9 | 3.1 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | 1,353.9 | 1,298.1 | 55.8 | 4.1 | 1,348.3 | 1,296.5 | 51.8 | 3.8 | 1,347.3 | 1,296.9 | 50.3 | 3.7 |
| Sherman-Denison | 73.4 | 70.4 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 73.2 | 70.4 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 72.5 | 69.8 | 2.7 | 3.7 |
| Texarkana | 62.4 | 59.8 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 62.0 | 59.5 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 61.9 | 59.4 | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Tyler | 122.8 | 118.0 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 121.1 | 116.8 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 121.5 | 117.2 | 4.4 | 3.6 |
| Victoria | 44.8 | 43.0 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 44.8 | 43.0 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 44.9 | 43.1 | 1.8 | 3.9 |
| Waco | 147.0 | 141.2 | 5.8 | 4.0 | 146.9 | 141.5 | 5.3 | 3.6 | 146.0 | 140.5 | 5.5 | 3.7 |
| Wichita Falls | 66.0 | 63.5 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 66.1 | 63.7 | 2.3 | 3.5 | 66.1 | 63.8 | 2.3 | 3.5 |
Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted
| INDUSTRY TITLE | May 2026* | Apr 2026 | May 2025 | Apr '26 to May '26 | May '25 to May '26 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Change | Percent Change | Absolute Change | Percent Change | ||||
| Total Nonagricultural | 14,419,200 | 14,401,400 | 14,321,200 | 17,800 | 0.1 | 98,000 | 0.7 |
| Total Private | 12,285,200 | 12,269,400 | 12,188,600 | 15,800 | 0.1 | 96,600 | 0.8 |
| Goods Producing | 2,111,400 | 2,103,700 | 2,104,700 | 7,700 | 0.4 | 6,700 | 0.3 |
| Mining and Logging | 213,700 | 209,900 | 214,800 | 3,800 | 1.8 | -1,100 | -0.5 |
| Construction | 920,700 | 917,100 | 902,000 | 3,600 | 0.4 | 18,700 | 2.1 |
| Manufacturing | 977,000 | 976,700 | 987,900 | 300 | 0.0 | -10,900 | -1.1 |
| Service Providing | 12,307,800 | 12,297,700 | 12,216,500 | 10,100 | 0.1 | 91,300 | 0.7 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 2,807,700 | 2,800,600 | 2,787,200 | 7,100 | 0.3 | 20,500 | 0.7 |
| Information | 214,200 | 215,800 | 223,400 | -1,600 | -0.7 | -9,200 | -4.1 |
| Financial Activities | 939,600 | 940,900 | 942,300 | -1,300 | -0.1 | -2,700 | -0.3 |
| Professional and Business Services | 2,162,200 | 2,163,500 | 2,125,400 | -1,300 | -0.1 | 36,800 | 1.7 |
| Private Education and Health Services | 2,008,500 | 2,009,800 | 1,980,200 | -1,300 | -0.1 | 28,300 | 1.4 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 1,544,100 | 1,540,200 | 1,533,400 | 3,900 | 0.3 | 10,700 | 0.7 |
| Other Services | 497,500 | 494,900 | 492,000 | 2,600 | 0.5 | 5,500 | 1.1 |
| Government | 2,134,000 | 2,132,000 | 2,132,600 | 2,000 | 0.1 | 1,400 | 0.1 |
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Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers, families, and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and its services in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 800-628-5115 or visit https://twc.texas.gov/. Subscribe to email updates to receive notifications about TWC programs and services.