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Texas Labor Market Continues to Expand, Civilian Labor Force Exceeds 15.5 Million

News Category Press Releases
December 20, 2024

AUSTIN ⎯ Texas’ civilian labor force achieved another new record high in November. In addition, Texas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased to 14,286,700 after 9,100 jobs were added over the month. Texas added 274,300 jobs from November 2023 to November 2024. Texas’ annual nonfarm growth rate reached 2.0 percent, outpacing the U.S. growth rate by 0.6 percentage points.

In November, Texas’ seasonally adjusted civilian labor force achieved a new record high of 15,536,100 after adding 39,100 people over the month. This marks the eleventh consecutive month of growth for Texas’ civilian labor force. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 403,200 people.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose a tenth of a point to 4.2 percent over the month.

“After another month of job growth, the Texas labor force participation rate has reached a 10-year high, at 64.7 percent,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “This positive trend shows the strength of the Texas workforce, its employers, and its job seekers.”

The Private Education and Health Services industry had the largest over-the-month increase in November after adding 5,900 jobs. In addition, Government added 3,500 jobs over the month and Financial Activities added 3,000. Financial Activities grew by 3.4 percent over the year in Texas and outperformed the industry’s growth rate nationally by 2.8 percentage points.

“Texas continues to outpace the national employment growth rate, indicating that the Lone Star State is still the best place to live and work,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “There are more than half a million job postings online, and TWC is dedicated to connecting Texans with new career opportunities.”

The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 2.8 percent in November, followed by the Amarillo MSA at 3.1 percent and the College Station-Bryan MSA at 3.2 percent.

“Employers continue to choose Texas because of our dynamic business environment, talented workforce, and strong community partnerships,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza. “TWC is here to support both individuals seeking to grow their careers and employers looking to strengthen their teams, ensuring Texas remains a leader in workforce excellence.”

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 December is scheduled to be released on Friday, January 24, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. (CT).

Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
 November 2024October 2024November 2023
C.L.F.Emp.Unemp.RateC.L.F.Emp.Unemp.RateC.L.F.Emp.Unemp.Rate
United States168,164.0161,456.06,708.04.0168,569.0161,938.06,631.03.9167,977.0162,149.05,827.03.5
Texas15,621.014,965.5655.54.215,573.614,931.5642.14.115,207.314,670.6536.83.5
Abilene85.282.23.03.585.282.23.03.583.080.62.42.9
Amarillo141.8137.44.43.1141.3136.94.43.1138.4134.83.62.6
Austin-Round Rock1,510.11,456.853.33.51,506.81,454.052.83.51,473.21,428.644.73.0
Beaumont-Port Arthur175.6165.110.56.0174.8164.710.15.8170.4161.78.75.1
Brownsville-Harlingen189.1178.910.25.4187.8178.19.65.1182.6174.08.64.7
College Station-Bryan160.2155.05.23.2159.7154.75.13.2154.5150.34.22.7
Corpus Christi213.5203.99.54.5213.6204.39.34.4209.1201.28.03.8
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington4,534.14,354.9179.24.04,529.44,352.1177.33.94,422.64,273.9148.73.4
Dallas-Plano-Irving MD3,072.82,951.4121.43.93,072.62,952.5120.13.92,999.92,898.8101.13.4
Fort Worth-Arlington MD1,461.31,403.557.84.01,456.91,399.757.23.91,422.71,375.147.63.3
El Paso394.7376.718.04.5393.9376.317.64.5385.7370.615.23.9
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land3,767.63,596.6171.14.53,752.53,585.2167.34.53,656.53,517.5139.03.8
Killeen-Temple190.5181.29.34.9190.0180.89.24.8187.1179.87.33.9
Laredo125.4120.25.34.2124.4119.35.14.1122.1117.94.23.5
Longview101.696.74.94.9101.296.54.74.799.395.43.83.9
Lubbock175.8169.56.33.6175.4169.26.23.6173.1168.24.92.9
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission390.3366.523.86.1385.9364.521.35.5382.3361.920.45.3
Midland118.4115.03.32.8118.2115.03.32.8115.9113.32.52.2
Odessa88.585.23.33.888.385.13.33.786.784.22.63.0
San Angelo59.257.02.23.859.156.82.23.857.755.91.73.0
San Antonio-New Braunfels1,339.71,286.952.83.91,335.41,283.252.13.91,297.01,254.742.33.3
Sherman-Denison72.269.42.83.972.069.32.73.870.468.12.33.2
Texarkana63.761.12.64.163.560.92.64.062.460.22.23.5
Tyler119.2114.54.74.0118.6114.04.63.9115.9112.23.83.3
Victoria45.543.62.04.345.343.41.94.244.743.11.63.6
Waco141.8136.35.43.8141.5136.15.43.8138.2133.94.33.1
Wichita Falls66.463.72.74.166.263.52.74.064.962.72.23.4
Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted
INDUSTRY TITLENov 2024*Oct 2024Nov 2023Oct '24 to Nov '24Nov '23 to Nov '24
Absolute ChangePercent ChangeAbsolute ChangePercent Change
Total Nonagricultural14,286,700 14,277,600 14,012,400 9,100 0.1   274,300 2.0     
Total Private12,173,100 12,167,500 11,937,500 5,600 0.0   235,600 2.0     
Goods Producing2,061,600 2,061,600 2,006,100 0.0   55,500 2.8     
Mining and Logging209,000 209,500 210,100 -500 -0.2   -1,100 -0.5     
Construction867,800 867,000 835,600 800 0.1   32,200 3.9     
Manufacturing984,800 985,100 960,400 -300 0.0   24,400 2.5     
Service Providing12,225,100 12,216,000 12,006,300 9,100 0.1   218,800 1.8     
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities2,798,900 2,800,700 2,774,600 -1,800 -0.1   24,300 0.9     
Information239,700 237,800 233,700 1,900 0.8   6,000 2.6     
Financial Activities939,800 936,800 909,300 3,000 0.3   30,500 3.4     
Professional and Business Services2,144,000 2,144,800 2,127,300 -800 0.0   16,700 0.8     
Education and Health Services1,971,300 1,965,400 1,919,400 5,900 0.3   51,900 2.7     
Leisure and Hospitality1,528,800 1,531,500 1,487,500 -2,700 -0.2   41,300 2.8     
Other Services489,000 488,900 479,600 100 0.0   9,400 2.0     
Government2,113,600 2,110,100 2,074,900 3,500 0.2   38,700 1.9     

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.