Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content

Texas Labor Market Shows Steady Growth, Record High Levels for Jobs and Labor Force

News Category Press Releases
April 19, 2024

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas labor market maintained its momentum in March to reach a 36th consecutive month of positive annual growth and once again set new record-high levels for jobs, Texans employed, and the civilian labor force.  Texas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm job count increased to 14,115,700 after 19,100 jobs were added over the month in March, reflecting growth in 45 of the last 47 months.

Texas also led the nation with the largest absolute over-the-year increase in total nonfarm employment, which grew by 270,700 jobs from March 2023 to March 2024. This represents a 2.0 percent annual growth rate in Texas, which outpaced the U.S. growth rate by 0.1 percentage points.

The Texas seasonally adjusted civilian labor force grew over the month by 20,800 people to reach 15,189,900 in March. This included the addition of 12,100 employed Texans over the month. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate registered at 3.9 percent for the 10th consecutive month while showing a drop from the 4.0 percent unemployment rate from March 2023.

“Texas continues to be a top place for growth and economic success with thousands of jobs added by employers in March,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “Our world class workforce of talented Texans attracts employers from many expanding industries.”

The largest over-the-month addition of jobs occurred in Leisure and Hospitality, which achieved a new series high with 7,300 jobs added. Another 3,700 jobs were added in Mining and Logging. Other Services added 2,400 jobs over the month in March, which also marked an over-the-year growth rate of 4.6 percent—2.8 percentage points higher than the industry’s national growth rate. 

"Continued job growth has strengthened Texas’ reputation as the best state to work and do business," said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “As more people arrive in Texas in pursuit of these emerging career opportunities, TWC is making sure they have access to guidance and training for long-term success."

The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) added 67,800 nonfarm jobs over the year, which was the nation’s second largest absolute not seasonally adjusted over-the-year increase in total nonfarm employment among MSAs across the country. The Midland MSA maintained the lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 2.6 percent in March, followed by the Amarillo and College Station-Bryan MSAs at 3.1 percent.

"Texas continues to attract employers on a global scale because of our unique business climate, skilled workforce, and strong community partnerships,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza. “TWC can help workers across the state upskill and reskill to fill Texas employers’ growing workforce needs."

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 March is scheduled to be released on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).

Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
 March 2024February 2024March 2023
C.L.F.Emp.Unemp.RateC.L.F.Emp.Unemp.RateC.L.F.Emp.Unemp.Rate
United States167,960.0161,356.06,604.03.9167,285.0160,315.06,970.04.2166,783.0160,741.06,043.03.6
Texas15,276.914,654.0622.94.115,295.414,629.7665.74.415,058.514,453.7604.84.0
Abilene83.480.52.93.583.580.23.23.982.779.82.93.5
Amarillo138.8134.44.33.1139.1134.34.83.4137.3133.24.13.0
Austin-Round Rock1,478.91,427.351.73.51,479.91,425.054.93.71,449.81,401.648.13.3
Beaumont-Port Arthur171.2161.59.75.7171.4161.310.05.9169.4159.210.26.0
Brownsville-Harlingen184.1174.29.95.4184.0173.310.65.8182.3172.010.35.7
College Station-Bryan155.4150.54.83.1155.7150.25.53.5151.6147.04.63.1
Corpus Christi210.5201.39.24.4210.7201.09.74.6207.8198.49.44.5
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington4,423.04,248.9174.03.94,428.74,244.8183.94.24,359.44,195.7163.63.8
Dallas-Plano-Irving MD2,997.02,879.4117.63.93,002.22,877.8124.34.12,955.42,844.6110.73.7
Fort Worth-Arlington MD1,425.91,369.556.44.01,426.51,367.059.64.21,404.01,351.152.93.8
El Paso385.7368.517.24.5387.3368.718.74.8378.0361.216.94.5
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land3,682.53,524.2158.34.33,685.23,516.5168.64.63,619.63,465.6153.94.3
Killeen-Temple188.0179.58.54.5188.5179.49.24.9185.4176.68.84.7
Laredo123.1117.85.34.3123.2117.35.94.8120.5115.45.04.2
Longview99.895.44.44.4100.195.14.94.999.995.84.14.1
Lubbock173.6167.46.23.6173.8167.36.53.7171.5165.46.23.6
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission382.2359.322.96.0383.4359.623.86.2381.6357.923.76.2
Midland116.3113.33.02.6116.3113.03.32.9114.4111.52.92.5
Odessa87.384.32.93.487.283.93.33.886.283.22.93.4
San Angelo58.156.12.03.558.255.92.33.957.555.52.03.4
San Antonio-New Braunfels1,304.91,255.749.23.81,307.51,253.953.64.11,281.61,233.648.13.8
Sherman-Denison70.567.92.63.870.767.92.94.169.166.42.63.8
Texarkana62.359.72.64.262.459.72.84.462.359.92.54.0
Tyler116.0111.54.43.8116.4111.54.94.2115.2111.04.23.6
Victoria44.742.91.84.144.842.82.04.544.842.91.84.1
Waco139.3134.25.13.7139.6134.05.74.1136.5131.15.33.9
Wichita Falls65.262.52.74.265.362.42.94.465.362.62.74.1
Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted
INDUSTRY TITLEMar 2024*Feb 2024Mar 2023Feb '24 to Mar '24Mar '23 to Mar '24
Absolute ChangePercent ChangeAbsolute ChangePercent Change
Total Nonagricultural14,115,700 14,096,600 13,845,000 19,100 0.1   270,700 2.0     
Total Private12,019,900 12,006,900 11,817,400 13,000 0.1   202,500 1.7     
Goods Producing2,025,900 2,023,600 1,982,000 2,300 0.1   43,900 2.2     
Mining and Logging212,900 209,200 215,100 3,700 1.8   -2,200 -1.0     
Construction845,200 844,900 816,600 300 0.0   28,600 3.5     
Manufacturing967,800 969,500 950,300 -1,700 -0.2   17,500 1.8     
Service Providing12,089,800 12,073,000 11,863,000 16,800 0.1   226,800 1.9     
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities2,765,100 2,766,600 2,751,500 -1,500 -0.1   13,600 0.5     
Information233,400 233,200 237,200 200 0.1   -3,800 -1.6     
Financial Activities913,000 914,700 901,500 -1,700 -0.2   11,500 1.3     
Professional and Business Services2,145,500 2,143,800 2,120,500 1,700 0.1   25,000 1.2     
Education and Health Services1,931,500 1,929,200 1,878,700 2,300 0.1   52,800 2.8     
Leisure and Hospitality1,514,800 1,507,500 1,477,000 7,300 0.5   37,800 2.6     
Other Services490,700 488,300 469,000 2,400 0.5   21,700 4.6     
Government2,095,800 2,089,700 2,027,600 6,100 0.3   68,200 3.4     

###mjm

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.