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Texas Job Count Reaches Historic Milestone

News Category Press Releases
October 20, 2023

Lone Star State Surpasses 14 Million Jobs, Continues Growth Streak

AUSTIN ⎯ Texas’ labor market achieved new record highs in September in terms of the job count, number of people employed, and number of people in the civilian labor force. Total nonfarm employment increased by 61,400 positions over the month to reach a 24th consecutive series-high level with 14,049,400 jobs and a 31st consecutive month of growth. Since September 2022, Lone Star State employment grew by 435,800 positions as Texas’ annual growth rate of 3.2 percent outpaced the nation by 1.1 percentage points.

The seasonally adjusted number of employed persons increased by 26,900 people over the month, raising Texas’ new record high to 14,515,800. The Lone Star State’s seasonally adjusted civilian labor force also reached a new record high of 15,141,300 after increasing by 29,500 people over the month. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent for September.

“The Texas economy continues to grow, exceeding 14 million jobs for the first time,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Bryan Daniel. “TWC supports this continuous job growth through a number of programs designed to ensure the Texas workforce continues to meet the needs of Texas employers.”

Employment in nine of eleven major industries expanded over the month. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities saw significant growth over the month with 15,200 jobs added while the Professional and Business Services industry gained 14,900 jobs in September. Another 13,800 positions were added in Private Education and Health Services, and 8,000 jobs were tallied for Manufacturing.

“Texas has achieved growth across all major private industries by fostering a business environment that enables Texas employers, large and small, to thrive, grow and succeed,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson. “TWC has a number of programs and initiatives like Texas Interns Unite! and the Skills Development Fund that help companies upskill their workforce, create new jobs and provide them with the support they need to bolster the Texas economy.”

The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) maintained the lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 2.5 percent in September, followed by Amarillo at 3.2 percent, College Station-Bryan at 3.2 percent, and Lubbock at 3.3 percent. Behind them, Odessa had an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent in September while Abilene maintained a rate of 3.5 percent. Austin-Round Rock and San Angelo both matched the U.S. unemployment rate of 3.6 percent. In addition, the civilian labor force in the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA increased by 3,800 people in September and employment increased by nearly 10,000 jobs over the month. Employment in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land area grew by 14,300 jobs in September while the MSA’s unemployment rate was half a percentage point lower than it was in the month prior.

“The record-setting civilian labor force of 15.1 million people enhances the state’s economy,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “TWC strives to assist millions of Texans with in-demand, long-term careers as demonstrated by the increase of employed persons over the last several months.”

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 & Career Information Data for October is scheduled to be released on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. (CDT).

Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
 September 2023August 2023September 2022
C.L.F.Emp.Unemp.RateC.L.F.Emp.Unemp.RateC.L.F.Emp.Unemp.Rate
United States167,718.0161,669.06,049.03.6168,049.0161,427.06,623.03.9164,463.0159,003.05,460.03.3
Texas15,178.514,558.2620.34.115,187.714,502.5685.14.514,685.014,142.1542.93.7
Abilene82.579.62.93.583.079.73.23.981.278.62.63.2
Amarillo137.4133.14.33.2137.7132.84.93.5134.9131.13.82.8
Austin-Round Rock1,460.11,407.852.33.61,456.11,399.656.53.91,404.61,365.339.32.8
Beaumont-Port Arthur169.3159.49.95.8171.0159.711.46.7165.9156.89.25.5
Brownsville-Harlingen182.0172.39.65.3182.2171.410.85.9177.5168.39.25.2
College Station-Bryan149.4144.64.83.2145.9140.45.53.8145.5141.14.43.0
Corpus Christi205.0195.89.24.5206.6196.410.35.0201.4192.19.24.6
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington4,464.54,292.5172.03.94,464.94,278.1186.84.24,266.94,121.8145.13.4
Dallas-Plano-Irving MD3,029.32,912.1117.23.93,027.12,900.2126.84.22,890.22,792.897.43.4
Fort Worth-Arlington MD1,435.21,380.454.83.81,437.91,377.959.94.21,376.81,329.147.73.5
El Paso377.5359.817.74.7380.8361.119.75.2372.4357.115.34.1
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land3,630.53,470.5159.94.43,632.83,456.2176.64.93,518.33,377.5140.84.0
Killeen-Temple187.5179.08.54.5187.7178.49.35.0183.4175.67.74.2
Laredo119.8115.14.74.0119.5114.25.24.4117.2113.04.23.6
Longview99.094.74.34.499.795.04.74.897.593.63.94.0
Lubbock171.7165.95.73.3171.4164.86.63.9168.2162.85.43.2
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission379.4357.222.25.8383.5357.326.16.8370.4348.322.16.0
Midland115.5112.62.92.5115.9112.63.32.8110.4107.52.92.6
Odessa87.084.12.93.486.783.43.33.884.681.72.93.4
San Angelo57.155.02.13.657.555.22.34.056.254.41.83.2
San Antonio-New Braunfels1,292.81,243.349.43.81,289.01,233.955.14.31,251.81,208.043.93.5
Sherman-Denison67.865.12.73.967.965.02.94.365.863.52.43.6
Texarkana63.360.92.53.963.560.82.74.262.259.62.64.2
Tyler113.7109.34.53.9114.3109.44.94.2111.9107.94.03.6
Victoria45.243.41.94.145.343.32.14.544.642.91.83.9
Waco137.6132.55.03.7138.9133.25.74.1134.4129.94.53.4
Wichita Falls65.162.52.64.065.162.22.94.464.061.72.33.6
Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted
INDUSTRY TITLESep 2023*Aug 2023Sep 2022Aug '23 to Sep '23Sep '22 to Sep '23
Absolute ChangePercent ChangeAbsolute ChangePercent Change
Total Nonagricultural14,049,400 13,988,000 13,613,600 61,400 0.4   435,800 3.2     
Total Private11,983,600 11,924,000 11,610,700 59,600 0.5   372,900 3.2     
Goods Producing2,012,800 2,001,500 1,939,400 11,300 0.6   73,400 3.8     
Mining and Logging224,300 222,800 206,000 1,500 0.7   18,300 8.9     
Construction815,200 813,400 795,300 1,800 0.2   19,900 2.5     
Manufacturing973,300 965,300 938,100 8,000 0.8   35,200 3.8     
Service Providing12,036,600 11,986,500 11,674,200 50,100 0.4   362,400 3.1     
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities2,800,500 2,785,300 2,739,700 15,200 0.5   60,800 2.2     
Information239,700 240,500 235,100 -800 -0.3   4,600 2.0     
Financial Activities927,000 923,400 889,900 3,600 0.4   37,100 4.2     
Professional and Business Services2,141,300 2,126,400 2,107,000 14,900 0.7   34,300 1.6     
Education and Health Services1,911,900 1,898,100 1,817,900 13,800 0.7   94,000 5.2     
Leisure and Hospitality1,476,300 1,472,300 1,427,200 4,000 0.3   49,100 3.4     
Other Services474,100 476,500 454,500 -2,400 -0.5   19,600 4.3     
Government2,065,800 2,064,000 2,002,900 1,800 0.1   62,900 3.1     

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Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers, and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and its services in coordination with its local workforce development boards network, call 800-628-5115 or visit https://twc.texas.gov/. Subscribe to email updates to receive notifications about TWC programs and services.