Texas annual employment growth rate outpaces national rate

Texas continues to create jobs and outpace the national job growth rate even after losing jobs in September.Last month, Texas employers reported 14,461,300 nonfarm jobs after losing 11,100 jobs in September.
Texas’ civilian labor force totaled 15,948,400 after adding 15,800 people over the month.
Over the year, far fewer people were added, 3,600, according to the latest data released by the Texas Workforce Commission. The private sector added 160,400 jobs over the year, according to the data.
Over the year, Texas added 154,300 jobs for an annual growth rate of 1.1%, outpacing the national rate by 0.8 percentage points.
This number is down from 159,000 jobs added over the year in August, The Center Square reported.
“Texas is where opportunity knows no bounds,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. “With the best business climate and strongest workforce in America, Texas grows jobs faster than the nation as a whole and wages have risen to an all-time high. Texas truly is the best place to live, work, build a business, and raise a family.”
The more than 154,000 jobs added over the year “reflects balanced growth across Texas industries,” TWC Chairman Joe Esparza said in a statement. “Texas continues to outpace the nation because of innovative programs like Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants, which are equipping students with skills that help businesses compete today and plan for tomorrow.”
On Monday, Abbott announced more than $20 million in JET career training grants that had been awarded to schools nationwide.
TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III also highlighted other statewide initiatives like the TWC’s annual Hiring Red, White & You! career fairs and the Texas HireAbility campaign. “We are actively connecting Texans of all abilities with the critical training and resources they need to build prosperous, lifelong careers,” he said in a statement.
TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett said this month’s Texas HireAbility campaign is helping “strengthen our communities and allow Texas businesses to tap into a dedicated and driven talent pool.”
The Manufacturing industry reported the largest private sector over-the-month increase last month, adding 4,700 jobs. Professional and Business Services added 1,600 jobs over the month; Information added 1,400. The Government Services industry reported the largest decline over the month.
Since Abbott’s been in office, Texas has gained more than 2.6 million jobs. Average weekly wages in Texas also rose to an all-time high in the first quarter of 2026, according to the most recent available labor market information.
Texas’ not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has also been consistently higher than the national rate, as it was last month. Last month, the national rate was 4%. Texas’ rate was 4.3%.
Both were lower than what they were in August of 4.3% and 4.6%, respectively, The Center Square reported.
The same metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) reported the lowest and highest unemployment rates as in previous months.
The Midland MSA reported the lowest not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2%. Abilene, Amarillo, College Station-Bryan and San Angelo MSAs each reported 3.5%, according to the data.
The MSAs reporting the highest unemployment rates were again Eagle Pass (6.2%), Brownsville-Harlingen (5.9%) and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission’s (5.6%).
All of these rates dropped over the month.

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