Hiring Events: Sept 27: Laredo, Nacogdoches, Online, San Angelo | Sept 28: Laredo, Texoma, Livingston, Nacogdoches | More Job Fairs
TWC launches its redesigned website on Sept. 30, 2023. Look forward to a brand new website with you in mind. Online services continue to be available 24 hours a day.

Solid Employment Growth in July Leads to More Records in Texas

lmci template

Date: August 18, 2023

Media Contact: Angela Woellner
Email: press@twc.texas.gov

AUSTIN ⎯ Texas has more jobs, more people employed, and more people willing and able to work than ever before as growth continued in July. Total nonfarm employment increased by 26,300 positions over the month to reach a 22nd consecutive series-high level at 13,969,100 jobs and achieved 29 consecutive months of growth. Since July 2022, Lone Star State employment grew by 441,700 positions—again, leading the nation in number of jobs added over the year.

The number of employed persons also reached a new record high adding 34,800 people over the month to reach 14,464,700. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent in July. The Texas seasonally adjusted civilian labor force grew over the month to 15,078,400 in July.

“Texas leads the nation in sustainable job growth with more than 2.7 million positions added in the past decade,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “The Texas economy remains strong, and TWC will continue to provide support through tools and resources for job seekers and employers alike.”

Leisure and Hospitality lead job growth for all the major industries with 9,800 jobs added over the month. Manufacturing added 6,600 jobs, closely followed by Private Education and Health Services, which tacked on 6,400 positions. Texas’ annual employment growth through July 2023 was stronger than the national rate in all but one of the 11 major industries, Leisure and Hospitality. That industry already recovered in Texas while employment remains below the pre-COVID threshold nationally.

“Following a net increase of 26,300 jobs in July, all but 400 of those jobs were in the private sector, illustrating that the Lone Star State continues to be the most attractive state for business,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson. “It is important to continue encouraging that job growth by utilizing our programs at TWC that help Texas employers grow their business, like the Skills Development Fund and the Skills for Small Business grant program.”

The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) reached the lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 2.9 percent in July, followed by Amarillo 3.6 percent, then Austin-Round Rock, College Station-Bryan, and Odessa at 3.8 percent, each. The Midland MSA again had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in number of jobs in the nation, not seasonally adjusted, while Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington MSA had the second largest overall number of jobs added.

“Our civilian labor force continues to grow as more and more people relocate to Texas and become a part of the strongest employment ecosystem,” said Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “TWC supports over 14.4 million working Texans by offering valuable services for training, job search and vocational rehabilitation support services.”

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 August is scheduled to be released on Friday September 15, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. (CDT).

Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
  July 2023 June 2023 July 2022
C.L.F. Emp. Unemp. Rate C.L.F. Emp. Unemp. Rate C.L.F. Emp. Unemp. Rate
United States 168,354.0 161,982.0 6,372.0 3.8 167,910.0 161,559.0 6,351.0 3.8 165,321.0 159,067.0 6,255.0 3.8
Texas 15,180.4 14,496.9 683.5 4.5 15,047.1 14,418.8 628.2 4.2 14,678.4 14,088.3 590.0 4.0
Abilene 83.1 79.8 3.3 4.0 82.2 79.0 3.2 3.8 81.0 78.1 2.9 3.6
Amarillo 137.3 132.4 4.9 3.6 136.1 131.7 4.5 3.3 135.6 131.4 4.2 3.1
Austin-Round Rock 1,454.8 1,399.4 55.4 3.8 1,446.3 1,395.8 50.5 3.5 1,400.9 1,359.3 41.6 3.0
Beaumont-Port Arthur 171.0 159.5 11.5 6.8 169.6 158.7 10.9 6.4 164.6 154.4 10.2 6.2
Brownsville-Harlingen 180.7 169.5 11.2 6.2 179.3 168.7 10.6 5.9 178.5 168.1 10.4 5.8
College Station-Bryan 147.3 141.6 5.6 3.8 147.0 141.7 5.3 3.6 140.9 136.1 4.8 3.4
Corpus Christi 206.8 196.5 10.3 5.0 205.1 195.6 9.4 4.6 203.4 193.3 10.1 5.0
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington 4,458.3 4,273.3 185.0 4.1 4,403.8 4,233.6 170.3 3.9 4,256.9 4,101.3 155.6 3.7
Dallas-Plano-Irving MD 3,019.2 2,893.8 125.3 4.2 2,983.7 2,868.1 115.7 3.9 2,882.1 2,777.7 104.3 3.6
Fort Worth-Arlington MD 1,439.1 1,379.5 59.6 4.1 1,420.1 1,365.5 54.6 3.8 1,374.9 1,323.6 51.3 3.7
El Paso 381.8 362.1 19.7 5.1 376.9 360.0 16.9 4.5 371.8 355.8 16.0 4.3
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land 3,626.6 3,452.2 174.4 4.8 3,601.2 3,440.4 160.8 4.5 3,510.8 3,358.4 152.4 4.3
Killeen-Temple 188.0 178.7 9.3 5.0 185.7 177.3 8.5 4.6 182.8 174.4 8.4 4.6
Laredo 119.2 113.7 5.5 4.6 118.4 113.2 5.3 4.4 117.2 112.4 4.8 4.1
Longview 99.8 95.2 4.7 4.7 98.8 94.3 4.5 4.5 96.9 92.7 4.3 4.4
Lubbock 171.7 164.7 7.0 4.1 170.0 163.6 6.3 3.7 169.0 162.7 6.4 3.8
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission 382.5 355.7 26.9 7.0 381.2 355.7 25.4 6.7 370.2 344.9 25.2 6.8
Midland 115.7 112.4 3.3 2.9 114.6 111.7 3.0 2.6 109.5 106.2 3.2 2.9
Odessa 86.5 83.3 3.3 3.8 86.1 83.1 3.0 3.4 83.5 80.3 3.2 3.8
San Angelo 58.1 55.7 2.4 4.1 57.7 55.4 2.4 4.1 56.2 54.2 2.0 3.5
San Antonio-New Braunfels 1,291.1 1,236.2 54.9 4.2 1,287.4 1,237.9 49.4 3.8 1,252.9 1,205.3 47.6 3.8
Sherman-Denison 68.1 65.2 2.9 4.3 67.4 64.7 2.7 4.0 66.2 63.7 2.5 3.8
Texarkana 64.0 61.2 2.8 4.3 63.4 60.8 2.6 4.0 62.9 60.0 2.9 4.6
Tyler 114.0 109.2 4.9 4.3 112.7 108.3 4.3 3.8 112.4 108.1 4.3 3.8
Victoria 45.5 43.4 2.1 4.6 45.1 43.2 1.9 4.3 44.2 42.3 1.9 4.3
Waco 138.8 132.9 5.8 4.2 136.9 131.4 5.5 4.0 132.7 127.6 5.1 3.9
Wichita Falls 65.3 62.4 2.9 4.5 65.0 62.3 2.7 4.1 64.5 61.9 2.6 4.1

Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted

INDUSTRY TITLE Jul 2023* June 2023 Jul 2022 June '23 to Jul '23 Jul '22 to Jul '23
Absolute Change Percent Change Absolute Change Percent Change
Total Nonagricultural 13,969,100  13,942,800  13,527,400  26,300  0.2    441,700  3.3     
Total Private 11,922,700  11,896,800  11,530,400  25,900  0.2    392,300  3.4     
Goods Producing 1,995,900  1,985,900  1,919,700  10,000  0.5    76,200  4.0     
Mining and Logging 220,600  221,900  202,300  -1,300  -0.6    18,300  9.0     
Construction 811,600  806,900  786,400  4,700  0.6    25,200  3.2     
Manufacturing 963,700  957,100  931,000  6,600  0.7    32,700  3.5     
Service Providing 11,973,200  11,956,900  11,607,700  16,300  0.1    365,500  3.1     
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 2,791,100  2,785,500  2,721,500  5,600  0.2    69,600  2.6     
Information 240,700  243,700  234,200  -3,000  -1.2    6,500  2.8     
Financial Activities 917,700  914,800  884,000  2,900  0.3    33,700  3.8     
Professional and Business Services 2,130,800  2,136,500  2,094,300  -5,700  -0.3    36,500  1.7     
Education and Health Services 1,908,700  1,902,300  1,810,900  6,400  0.3    97,800  5.4     
Leisure and Hospitality 1,464,000  1,454,200  1,415,400  9,800  0.7    48,600  3.4     
Other Services 473,800  473,900  450,400  -100  0.0    23,400  5.2     
Government 2,046,400  2,046,000  1,997,000  400  0.0    49,400  2.5     

#amw

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.

Return to Top