Momentum Continues for Texas Labor Force and Job Count

Press Releases January 30, 2026 AUSTIN ⎯ Texas added 19,700 nonfarm jobs in December to reach a total of 14,341,000 positions. Over the year, the state added 132,500 jobs for an annual nonfarm growth rate of 0.9 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by half a percentage point.

Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,964,000 after adding 25,000 people over the month. This marks a new record-high level for the series. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 236,300 people.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas registered at 4.3 percent.

“Texas added more than 19,000 jobs in December, with growth spread across a majority of major industries,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “We are focused on ensuring Texas remains a national leader in economic opportunity through innovative, forward-looking initiatives like Skills for Small Business, the Texas Internship Network, and Texas Industry-Recognized apprenticeships.”

The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities industry had the largest private sector over-the-month increase in December after adding 9,500 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality added 3,700 jobs over the month while Professional and Business Services added 3,000. In addition, Private Education and Health Services posted an annual growth rate of 2.3 percent in December, which was the highest of any major industry.

“Tens of thousands of people joined the Texas labor force last month,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “To connect all segments of our growing labor force with employment opportunities, TWC offers a wide array of resources such as job fairs, labor market information, and vocational rehabilitation services to link Texans with meaningful careers.”

The Amarillo metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 2.8 percent in December. It was followed by the Midland and San Angelo MSAs, which both registered at 2.9 percent.

“Every bit of great news and well-deserved accolades the Texas economy receives inspires our efforts,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett. “TWC will continue to help build a robust, well-trained workforce and a bigger, better, stronger economy for a more prosperous future for Texans.”

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 https://TexasLMI.com.

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

| | December 2025 | | | | November 2025 | | | | December 2024 | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | |
| C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | |
| United States | 170,723.0 | 163,720.0 | 7,003.0 | 4.1 | 171,467.0 | 164,066.0 | 7,401.0 | 4.3 | 167,746.0 | 161,294.0 | 6,452.0 | 3.8 |
| Texas | 15,931.4 | 15,307.2 | 624.3 | 3.9 | 16,040.8 | 15,363.3 | 677.6 | 4.2 | 15,737.6 | 15,153.8 | 583.8 | 3.7 |
| Abilene | 88.6 | 85.8 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 89.1 | 85.9 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 87.7 | 85.1 | 2.5 | 2.9 |
| Amarillo | 141.2 | 137.2 | 4.0 | 2.8 | 142.3 | 137.8 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 139.1 | 135.4 | 3.7 | 2.7 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | 1,534.3 | 1,484.7 | 49.6 | 3.2 | 1,543.4 | 1,488.5 | 54.8 | 3.6 | 1,517.7 | 1,470.0 | 47.7 | 3.1 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | 187.1 | 177.4 | 9.8 | 5.2 | 188.2 | 178.1 | 10.1 | 5.4 | 185.4 | 176.0 | 9.4 | 5.1 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | 198.6 | 186.0 | 12.6 | 6.4 | 200.1 | 186.9 | 13.2 | 6.6 | 191.5 | 182.1 | 9.4 | 4.9 |
| College Station-Bryan | 159.4 | 154.5 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 160.7 | 155.3 | 5.4 | 3.3 | 155.4 | 150.9 | 4.5 | 2.9 |
| Corpus Christi | 214.7 | 205.4 | 9.3 | 4.3 | 215.7 | 205.7 | 10.0 | 4.6 | 211.1 | 202.8 | 8.3 | 3.9 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | 4,562.1 | 4,396.6 | 165.5 | 3.6 | 4,592.7 | 4,410.2 | 182.6 | 4.0 | 4,528.5 | 4,370.8 | 157.7 | 3.5 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving MD | 3,101.2 | 2,987.5 | 113.7 | 3.7 | 3,123.1 | 2,997.7 | 125.4 | 4.0 | 3,084.4 | 2,976.3 | 108.1 | 3.5 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine MD | 1,461.0 | 1,409.1 | 51.8 | 3.5 | 1,469.6 | 1,412.5 | 57.2 | 3.9 | 1,444.0 | 1,394.4 | 49.6 | 3.4 |
| Eagle Pass | 25.1 | 22.9 | 2.2 | 8.7 | 25.1 | 23.0 | 2.1 | 8.3 | 24.3 | 22.5 | 1.8 | 7.5 |
| El Paso | 422.6 | 405.3 | 17.3 | 4.1 | 425.2 | 406.2 | 19.0 | 4.5 | 420.0 | 404.2 | 15.7 | 3.7 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | 3,906.7 | 3,741.1 | 165.5 | 4.2 | 3,931.8 | 3,753.8 | 178.0 | 4.5 | 3,869.1 | 3,713.9 | 155.3 | 4.0 |
| Killeen-Temple | 204.3 | 195.4 | 8.9 | 4.4 | 205.8 | 195.9 | 9.9 | 4.8 | 202.4 | 194.2 | 8.2 | 4.1 |
| Laredo | 122.4 | 117.4 | 5.0 | 4.1 | 123.1 | 117.7 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 120.4 | 115.9 | 4.5 | 3.7 |
| Longview | 130.5 | 125.0 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 131.4 | 125.3 | 6.0 | 4.6 | 128.9 | 123.2 | 5.7 | 4.4 |
| Lubbock | 187.5 | 181.7 | 5.9 | 3.1 | 188.9 | 182.3 | 6.5 | 3.5 | 185.5 | 179.8 | 5.7 | 3.1 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | 411.2 | 384.8 | 26.4 | 6.4 | 412.0 | 386.1 | 25.8 | 6.3 | 401.1 | 376.8 | 24.4 | 6.1 |
| Midland | 106.4 | 103.3 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 106.8 | 103.4 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 104.4 | 101.6 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
| Odessa | 89.0 | 85.9 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 89.5 | 86.1 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 87.4 | 84.5 | 2.8 | 3.2 |
| San Angelo | 63.8 | 62.0 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 64.2 | 62.1 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 63.0 | 61.2 | 1.8 | 2.9 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | 1,374.0 | 1,323.8 | 50.2 | 3.7 | 1,381.5 | 1,326.3 | 55.3 | 4.0 | 1,351.9 | 1,305.9 | 46.0 | 3.4 |
| Sherman-Denison | 73.0 | 70.3 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 73.5 | 70.6 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 71.8 | 69.3 | 2.4 | 3.4 |
| Texarkana | 63.2 | 60.6 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 63.6 | 60.8 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 62.3 | 59.9 | 2.4 | 3.8 |
| Tyler | 121.8 | 116.5 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 121.9 | 117.0 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 119.1 | 115.1 | 4.1 | 3.4 |
| Victoria | 46.0 | 44.2 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 46.3 | 44.4 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 45.3 | 43.7 | 1.7 | 3.7 |
| Waco | 149.3 | 143.9 | 5.4 | 3.6 | 150.9 | 144.8 | 6.2 | 4.1 | 148.0 | 143.1 | 4.9 | 3.3 |
| Wichita Falls | 67.1 | 64.8 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 67.7 | 65.1 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 66.9 | 64.6 | 2.2 | 3.3 |
Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted

| INDUSTRY TITLE | Dec 2025* | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 | Nov '25 to Dec '25 | | Dec '24 to Dec '25 | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | |
| Absolute Change | Percent Change | Absolute Change | Percent Change | | | | |
| Total Nonagricultural | 14,341,000 | 14,321,300 | 14,208,500 | 19,700 | 0.1 | 132,500 | 0.9 |
| Total Private | 12,193,700 | 12,176,300 | 12,077,800 | 17,400 | 0.1 | 115,900 | 1.0 |
| Goods Producing | 2,067,300 | 2,068,900 | 2,051,100 | -1,600 | -0.1 | 16,200 | 0.8 |
| Mining and Logging | 221,200 | 218,700 | 217,400 | 2,500 | 1.1 | 3,800 | 1.7 |
| Construction | 876,600 | 881,100 | 860,900 | -4,500 | -0.5 | 15,700 | 1.8 |
| Manufacturing | 969,500 | 969,100 | 972,800 | 400 | 0.0 | -3,300 | -0.3 |
| Service Providing | 12,273,700 | 12,252,400 | 12,157,400 | 21,300 | 0.2 | 116,300 | 1.0 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 2,818,400 | 2,808,900 | 2,780,600 | 9,500 | 0.3 | 37,800 | 1.4 |
| Information | 224,200 | 224,500 | 228,800 | -300 | -0.1 | -4,600 | -2.0 |
| Financial Activities | 939,300 | 938,000 | 937,400 | 1,300 | 0.1 | 1,900 | 0.2 |
| Professional and Business Services | 2,118,800 | 2,115,800 | 2,133,600 | 3,000 | 0.1 | -14,800 | -0.7 |
| Private Education and Health Services | 1,985,900 | 1,984,600 | 1,941,700 | 1,300 | 0.1 | 44,200 | 2.3 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 1,541,700 | 1,538,000 | 1,515,200 | 3,700 | 0.2 | 26,500 | 1.7 |
| Other Services | 498,100 | 497,600 | 489,400 | 500 | 0.1 | 8,700 | 1.8 |
| Government | 2,147,300 | 2,145,000 | 2,130,700 | 2,300 | 0.1 | 16,600 | 0.8 |

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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.