Texas Adds 40,100 Jobs in January as Job Growth Outpaces Nation

Press Releases April 3, 2026 AUSTIN ⎯ Texas added 40,100 nonfarm jobs in January to reach a total of 14,379,500 positions. Over the year, the state added 112,200 jobs for an annual nonfarm growth rate of 0.8 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.6 percentage points.

Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,955,200 after decreasing by 3,400 over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 152,000 people.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas remained stable at 4.3 percent.

“Texas employers continue to spur our state’s economic momentum, adding more than 40,000 jobs across a wide range of major industries,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “TWC remains committed to supporting Texas’ pro-growth policies and world-class talent pipeline that make Texas the best place to do business.”

The Construction industry had the largest private sector over-the-month increase in January after adding 11,800 jobs. Construction also posted an annual growth rate of 3.4 percent in January, which was the highest of any major industry. The Leisure and Hospitality industry and Private Education and Health Services industry each added 10,300 jobs over the month while Professional and Business Services added 10,200.

“The growth we're seeing in sectors like Construction and Leisure and Hospitality is promising, but we need to ensure these jobs translate into real opportunities for Texas workers,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Trevino III. “That's why TWC's focus on apprenticeship programs and initiatives like the Jobs and Education for Texans grant is vital, providing the training and resources Texans need to succeed in these growing fields and build lasting careers.”

The Amarillo metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.3 percent in January. It was followed by the Midland MSA at 3.4 percent and the San Angelo MSA at 3.5 percent.

“Job growth in Texas continues to outpace the nation thanks in large part to a dynamic workforce system that enables both employers and job seekers to thrive,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett. “TWC resources connect working Texans with high-demand career opportunities while ensuring Texas businesses have access to a skilled workforce.”

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 February is scheduled to be released on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).

Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)

| | January 2026 Rate | | | | December 2025 Rate | | | | January 2025 Rate | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | |
| C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | | | | |
| United States | 169,612.0 | 161,670.0 | 7,942.0 | 4.7 | 170,723.0 | 163,720.0 | 7,003.0 | 4.1 | 169,814.0 | 162,347.0 | 7,467.0 | 4.4 |
| Texas | 15,838.9 | 15,126.2 | 712.7 | 4.5 | 15,921.4 | 15,297.5 | 623.9 | 3.9 | 15,769.6 | 15,109.5 | 660.2 | 4.2 |
| Abilene | 89.5 | 86.3 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 89.6 | 86.8 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 88.9 | 85.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 |
| Amarillo | 140.2 | 135.5 | 4.7 | 3.3 | 140.6 | 136.7 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 138.7 | 134.3 | 4.4 | 3.2 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | 1,553.9 | 1,496.3 | 57.6 | 3.7 | 1,562.3 | 1,512.5 | 49.8 | 3.2 | 1,541.4 | 1,487.2 | 54.2 | 3.5 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | 184.8 | 173.7 | 11.0 | 6.0 | 184.8 | 175.1 | 9.7 | 5.2 | 184.6 | 174.5 | 10.1 | 5.5 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | 190.2 | 176.6 | 13.6 | 7.2 | 191.1 | 178.5 | 12.6 | 6.6 | 191.3 | 180.8 | 10.5 | 5.5 |
| College Station-Bryan | 154.3 | 148.5 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 156.8 | 151.9 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 152.4 | 146.8 | 5.6 | 3.6 |
| Corpus Christi | 213.2 | 202.9 | 10.3 | 4.8 | 214.7 | 205.5 | 9.2 | 4.3 | 211.2 | 201.8 | 9.3 | 4.4 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | 4,542.7 | 4,352.5 | 190.2 | 4.2 | 4,574.0 | 4,408.2 | 165.7 | 3.6 | 4,521.5 | 4,342.1 | 179.4 | 4.0 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving MD | 3,100.5 | 2,970.0 | 130.5 | 4.2 | 3,120.0 | 3,006.0 | 114.0 | 3.7 | 3,085.8 | 2,962.7 | 123.0 | 4.0 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine MD | 1,442.2 | 1,382.4 | 59.7 | 4.1 | 1,454.0 | 1,402.3 | 51.7 | 3.6 | 1,435.7 | 1,379.3 | 56.4 | 3.9 |
| Eagle Pass | 25.5 | 23.0 | 2.5 | 9.8 | 25.3 | 23.1 | 2.2 | 8.6 | 24.8 | 22.6 | 2.2 | 8.8 |
| El Paso | 421.6 | 402.2 | 19.4 | 4.6 | 422.8 | 405.7 | 17.1 | 4.0 | 420.7 | 402.9 | 17.9 | 4.3 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | 3,891.4 | 3,702.5 | 188.9 | 4.9 | 3,913.4 | 3,746.8 | 166.6 | 4.3 | 3,875.9 | 3,702.3 | 173.6 | 4.5 |
| Killeen-Temple | 205.1 | 194.8 | 10.2 | 5.0 | 205.4 | 196.5 | 8.9 | 4.3 | 205.4 | 196.0 | 9.4 | 4.6 |
| Laredo | 122.1 | 116.3 | 5.8 | 4.8 | 122.8 | 117.9 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 120.7 | 115.4 | 5.3 | 4.4 |
| Longview | 129.8 | 123.6 | 6.2 | 4.8 | 130.2 | 124.9 | 5.4 | 4.1 | 129.7 | 123.4 | 6.3 | 4.9 |
| Lubbock | 187.6 | 180.7 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 187.4 | 181.6 | 5.8 | 3.1 | 186.7 | 180.0 | 6.7 | 3.6 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | 409.1 | 381.0 | 28.1 | 6.9 | 411.9 | 385.6 | 26.3 | 6.4 | 406.0 | 380.6 | 25.4 | 6.3 |
| Midland | 106.0 | 102.5 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 106.2 | 103.1 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 105.7 | 102.4 | 3.3 | 3.1 |
| Odessa | 88.0 | 84.4 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 88.3 | 85.1 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 87.6 | 84.3 | 3.3 | 3.7 |
| San Angelo | 62.1 | 59.9 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 62.3 | 60.5 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 61.7 | 59.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | 1,346.7 | 1,288.6 | 58.1 | 4.3 | 1,350.3 | 1,300.3 | 50.0 | 3.7 | 1,344.3 | 1,291.7 | 52.7 | 3.9 |
| Sherman-Denison | 73.1 | 70.0 | 3.1 | 4.3 | 73.5 | 70.9 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 71.8 | 69.1 | 2.8 | 3.8 |
| Texarkana | 61.9 | 58.8 | 3.1 | 5.0 | 62.1 | 59.5 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 61.4 | 58.7 | 2.7 | 4.4 |
| Tyler | 120.9 | 115.9 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 122.6 | 117.4 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 119.1 | 114.4 | 4.7 | 4.0 |
| Victoria | 45.0 | 43.0 | 2.1 | 4.6 | 45.1 | 43.4 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 44.7 | 42.9 | 1.9 | 4.1 |
| Waco | 147.0 | 140.8 | 6.2 | 4.2 | 147.2 | 141.9 | 5.3 | 3.6 | 145.4 | 139.6 | 5.8 | 4.0 |
| Wichita Falls | 66.3 | 63.6 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 66.5 | 64.2 | 2.3 | 3.5 | 66.4 | 63.8 | 2.6 | 3.9 |
Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted

| INDUSTRY TITLE | Jan 2026* | Dec 2025 | Jan 2025 | Dec '25 to Jan '26 | | Jan '25 to Jan '26 | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | |
| Absolute Change | Percent Change | Absolute Change | Percent Change | | | | |
| Total Nonagricultural | 14,379,500 | 14,339,400 | 14,267,300 | 40,100 | 0.3 | 112,200 | 0.8 |
| Total Private | 12,247,000 | 12,205,900 | 12,138,500 | 41,100 | 0.3 | 108,500 | 0.9 |
| Goods Producing | 2,103,200 | 2,093,900 | 2,085,900 | 9,300 | 0.4 | 17,300 | 0.8 |
| Mining and Logging | 209,000 | 209,400 | 213,700 | -400 | -0.2 | -4,700 | -2.2 |
| Construction | 915,200 | 903,400 | 885,100 | 11,800 | 1.3 | 30,100 | 3.4 |
| Manufacturing | 979,000 | 981,100 | 987,100 | -2,100 | -0.2 | -8,100 | -0.8 |
| Service Providing | 12,276,300 | 12,245,500 | 12,181,400 | 30,800 | 0.3 | 94,900 | 0.8 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 2,795,300 | 2,790,800 | 2,782,100 | 4,500 | 0.2 | 13,200 | 0.5 |
| Information | 218,000 | 218,500 | 224,400 | -500 | -0.2 | -6,400 | -2.9 |
| Financial Activities | 942,000 | 945,600 | 937,000 | -3,600 | -0.4 | 5,000 | 0.5 |
| Professional and Business Services | 2,137,100 | 2,126,900 | 2,115,900 | 10,200 | 0.5 | 21,200 | 1.0 |
| Private Education and Health Services | 2,011,900 | 2,001,600 | 1,971,000 | 10,300 | 0.5 | 40,900 | 2.1 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 1,542,600 | 1,532,300 | 1,528,700 | 10,300 | 0.7 | 13,900 | 0.9 |
| Other Services | 496,900 | 496,300 | 493,500 | 600 | 0.1 | 3,400 | 0.7 |
| Government | 2,132,500 | 2,133,500 | 2,128,800 | -1,000 | 0.0 | 3,700 | 0.2 |

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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.