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Texas Labor Market Growth Continues with Over 37,000 Jobs Added in December

News Category Press Releases
January 24, 2025

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas labor market achieved a new record-high level for jobs and the civilian labor force in December. The state added 37,500 positions over the month, reaching a total of 14,318,700 nonfarm jobs. Texas added 284,200 jobs from December 2023 to December 2024, bringing the annual nonfarm growth rate to 2.0 percent, which outpaced the U.S. growth rate by 0.6 percentage points.

December marks the twelfth consecutive month of growth for Texas’ civilian labor force, which achieved another new record high of 15,575,900 after adding 39,900 people over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 445,300 people.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas registered at 4.2 percent.

“This new record-high level for jobs and the civilian labor force shows the strength of Texas’ economy,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “TWC will continue its efforts for continued economic growth by connecting job seekers with employers and providing job training for Texans.”

The Professional and Business Services industry had the largest over-the-month increase in December after adding 17,800 jobs. In addition, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 10,400 jobs over the month and Leisure and Hospitality added 3,700. In Texas, Financial Activities grew by 3.6 percent over the year and outperformed the industry’s growth rate nationally by 3.0 percentage points.

“The Texas economy is thriving in diverse sectors," said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor, Alberto Treviño III. "I encourage job seekers to leverage TWC resources to find rewarding career opportunities that best match their skills."

The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 2.4 percent in December, followed by the Amarillo MSA at 2.6 percent and the College Station-Bryan MSA at 2.7 percent.

“Texas employers are creating jobs at a rate that outpaces the nation,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza. “TWC offers a wide range of programs to meet the workforce needs of today and prepare Texans for projected job growth in the years ahead.”

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, March 14, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. (CT).

Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
 December 2024November 2024December 2023
C.L.F.Emp.Unemp.RateC.L.F.Emp.Unemp.RateC.L.F.Emp.Unemp.Rate
United States167,746.0161,294.06,452.03.8168,164.0161,456.06,708.04.0166,661.0160,754.05,907.03.5
Texas15,591.415,012.4579.03.715,620.714,965.4655.34.215,090.814,564.9525.93.5
Abilene85.182.62.52.985.382.33.03.582.279.82.42.9
Amarillo141.3137.63.72.6141.7137.34.43.1136.8133.43.42.5
Austin-Round Rock1,507.01,460.646.43.11,507.51,454.253.33.51,459.71,416.643.13.0
Beaumont-Port Arthur175.4165.69.85.6175.6165.110.56.0169.4160.58.95.2
Brownsville-Harlingen188.6179.09.55.1189.0178.810.25.4181.3172.68.64.8
College Station-Bryan159.3155.04.32.7160.3155.15.23.2152.6148.63.92.6
Corpus Christi213.0204.68.54.0213.7204.29.54.5207.9200.17.83.7
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington4,529.24,372.8156.43.54,535.54,356.4179.24.04,389.14,244.7144.43.3
Dallas-Plano-Irving MD3,070.22,964.1106.13.53,074.72,953.3121.43.92,976.12,877.798.43.3
Fort Worth-Arlington MD1,459.01,408.750.33.41,460.81,403.057.84.01,413.01,366.946.13.3
El Paso394.9379.315.74.0395.2377.317.94.5382.8368.314.53.8
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land3,763.33,610.5152.84.13,768.23,597.1171.14.53,638.23,500.9137.33.8
Killeen-Temple189.6181.68.14.3190.5181.29.34.9185.5178.57.03.8
Laredo125.2120.54.73.7125.3120.15.24.2121.6117.44.23.5
Longview101.096.74.24.2101.596.64.94.998.794.83.94.0
Lubbock174.8169.55.33.0175.8169.56.33.6170.9166.34.72.7
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission390.9366.624.36.2389.3365.423.86.1379.7357.722.15.8
Midland118.3115.52.82.4118.6115.33.32.8115.1112.72.42.1
Odessa88.685.72.93.388.585.23.33.786.383.82.52.9
San Angelo59.157.21.93.259.256.92.23.857.155.51.62.9
San Antonio-New Braunfels1,337.41,291.945.53.41,339.21,286.452.83.91,289.71,249.140.63.1
Sherman-Denison71.869.52.43.372.269.42.83.969.867.62.23.1
Texarkana63.561.12.43.863.661.02.64.161.959.62.23.6
Tyler119.2115.14.13.4119.3114.54.74.0114.9111.23.73.2
Victoria45.443.71.73.745.543.62.04.344.442.81.53.4
Waco141.3136.74.63.3141.8136.45.43.8137.0132.94.13.0
Wichita Falls66.163.82.33.566.463.72.74.164.362.22.13.3
Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted
INDUSTRY TITLEDec 2024*Nov 2024Dec 2023Nov '24 to Dec '24Dec '23 to Dec '24
Absolute ChangePercent ChangeAbsolute ChangePercent Change
Total Nonagricultural14,318,700 14,281,200 14,034,500 37,500 0.3   284,200 2.0     
Total Private12,203,900 12,168,400 11,956,500 35,500 0.3   247,400 2.1     
Goods Producing2,064,200 2,062,100 2,014,200 2,100 0.1   50,000 2.5     
Mining and Logging211,200 210,700 214,300 500 0.2   -3,100 -1.4     
Construction869,400 867,100 837,900 2,300 0.3   31,500 3.8     
Manufacturing983,600 984,300 962,000 -700 -0.1   21,600 2.2     
Service Providing12,254,500 12,219,100 12,020,300 35,400 0.3   234,200 1.9     
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities2,803,400 2,793,000 2,777,200 10,400 0.4   26,200 0.9     
Information237,900 238,500 232,400 -600 -0.3   5,500 2.4     
Financial Activities941,100 940,000 908,400 1,100 0.1   32,700 3.6     
Professional and Business Services2,165,300 2,147,500 2,122,100 17,800 0.8   43,200 2.0     
Education and Health Services1,972,400 1,970,400 1,921,700 2,000 0.1   50,700 2.6     
Leisure and Hospitality1,532,900 1,529,200 1,497,400 3,700 0.2   35,500 2.4     
Other Services486,700 487,700 483,100 -1,000 -0.2   3,600 0.7     
Government2,114,800 2,112,800 2,078,000 2,000 0.1   36,800 1.8     

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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.