Texas’ Unemployment Rate Hits Historic Low 3.7 Percent

State has experienced 28 consecutive months of employment growth

AUSTIN ⎯ Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.7 percent in October, down from 3.8 percent in September 2018, reaching its lowest level since the state unemployment data series began in January 1976. The Texas economy added 32,300 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in October. Annual employment growth for Texas was 3.1 percent in October, marking 102 consecutive months of annual growth.

“The Texas economy continues to remain strong by adding 32,300 jobs in the month of October. These numbers highlight the strategic job creation efforts of our Texas employers, and provides our world-class workforce with career options in a variety of growing industries,” said Chair Ruth R. Hughs.  “Texas is a state that always welcomes new employers and also supports our homegrown businesses, offering them the tools they need to succeed and build on our continued success as a global economic leader.”

October’s annual growth in the state’s Goods Producing industries was strong at 6.6 percent. Over the month, Mining and Logging added 4,300 jobs, followed by the Construction industry with 1,500 positions.

In Texas’ Service Providing sector, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 8,900 positions over the month, and led all industries in job growth for October. Also within this sector, Leisure and Hospitality added 8,700 jobs, followed by Education and Health Services which added 5,100.

“Texas’ labor force is made up of hard-working individuals who are eager to obtain the skills that our employers need,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “The jobs are out there, and I encourage all job seekers to contact their local Workforce Solutions office for assistance with job training and placement.”

The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) recorded the month’s lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a non-seasonally adjusted rate of 2.1 percent, followed by the Amarillo MSA and the Odessa MSA which had the second lowest with a rate of 2.5 percent. The Austin-Round Rock, College Station- Bryan and Lubbock MSAs recorded the third lowest rate of 2.7 percent for October.

“Texas’ dynamic marketplace has set the standard as the Best State for Business over 14 consecutive years according to CEOs,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Robert D. Thomas. “That track record of accomplishment recognizes the perseverance, resilience and hard work of our workforce, employers and collaborative partners across the state.”

Audio downloads with comments from Commissioner Thomas on the latest labor market data are available on the TWC webpage for recent press releases. 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 tracer2.com.

The Texas Labor Market & Career Information Data for November is scheduled to be released on Friday, December 21, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. (CDT).

Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
  October 2018 September 2018 October 2017  
C.L.F. Emp. Unemp. Rate C.L.F. Emp. Unemp. Rate C.L.F. Emp. Unemp. Rate  
United States 162,723.0 156,952.0 5,771.0 3.5 161,958.0 156,191.0 5,766.0 3.6 160,465.0 154,223.0 6,242.0 3.9  
Texas 13,869.5 13,390.6 478.9 3.5 13,802.1 13,285.1 517.0 3.7 13,536.2 13,034.6 501.6 3.7  
Abilene 76.8 74.4 2.4 3.1 76.5 73.9 2.5 3.3 75.5 73.1 2.4 3.2  
Amarillo 133.5 130.1 3.4 2.5 132.5 128.9 3.6 2.7 130.9 127.6 3.4 2.6  
Austin-Round Rock 1,198.2 1,165.9 32.4 2.7 1,193.6 1,158.9 34.6 2.9 1,155.1 1,123.5 31.6 2.7  
Beaumont-Port Arthur 172.1 163.1 8.9 5.2 170.4 160.3 10.1 5.9 173.9 162.4 11.5 6.6  
Brownsville-Harlingen 165.0 156.4 8.6 5.2 165.6 156.2 9.5 5.7 163.6 154.2 9.4 5.8  
College Station-Bryan 135.7 132.1 3.6 2.7 134.0 130.1 3.9 2.9 133.0 129.4 3.6 2.7  
Corpus Christi 207.4 198.5 8.8 4.3 205.6 195.8 9.9 4.8 205.7 194.3 11.3 5.5  
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington 3,928.3 3,803.5 124.9 3.2 3,900.7 3,767.6 133.1 3.4 3,813.6 3,692.4 121.2 3.2  
   Dallas-Plano-Irving MD 2,659.9 2,575.4 84.4 3.2 2,639.8 2,549.6 90.1 3.4 2,576.1 2,494.4 81.7 3.2  
   Fort Worth-Arlington MD 1,268.5 1,228.0 40.4 3.2 1,261.0 1,218.0 43.0 3.4 1,237.5 1,198.0 39.5 3.2  
El Paso 362.0 347.9 14.1 3.9 360.4 345.2 15.2 4.2 354.2 339.8 14.4 4.1  
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land 3,420.9 3,292.1 128.8 3.8 3,405.3 3,264.4 140.8 4.1 3,317.1 3,172.3 144.8 4.4  
Killeen-Temple 178.2 171.4 6.8 3.8 177.3 170.1 7.1 4.0 174.7 168.2 6.5 3.7  
Laredo 115.0 111.0 4.0 3.5 114.4 110.2 4.2 3.6 114.0 110.1 3.9 3.4  
Longview 97.6 93.9 3.7 3.8 97.0 93.1 3.9 4.0 96.9 92.8 4.1 4.3  
Lubbock 165.2 160.6 4.5 2.7 164.4 159.4 4.9 3.0 161.4 157.1 4.3 2.7  
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission 340.9 322.3 18.6 5.5 341.1 320.0 21.1 6.2 337.5 317.6 20.0 5.9  
Midland 100.9 98.8 2.1 2.1 100.4 98.3 2.2 2.2 93.2 91.0 2.2 2.4  
Odessa 80.9 78.8 2.0 2.5 80.5 78.3 2.2 2.7 79.4 76.9 2.5 3.2  
San Angelo 55.5 53.8 1.7 3.0 55.3 53.5 1.8 3.2 54.7 53.0 1.7 3.0  
San Antonio-New Braunfels 1,180.7 1,144.3 36.4 3.1 1,176.7 1,137.9 38.8 3.3 1,168.4 1,133.0 35.5 3.0  
Sherman-Denison 63.8 61.9 1.9 3.0 63.4 61.4 2.0 3.2 61.7 59.9 1.9 3.0  
Texarkana 65.4 62.3 3.1 4.8 64.9 61.6 3.4 5.2 64.4 61.9 2.5 3.9  
Tyler 110.3 106.5 3.7 3.4 108.8 105.0 3.8 3.5 106.6 102.1 4.4 4.2  
Victoria 44.9 43.4 1.6 3.5 44.7 43.0 1.7 3.8 45.8 43.8 2.0 4.3  
Waco 125.3 121.2 4.0 3.2 125.4 121.1 4.3 3.4 123.8 119.6 4.3 3.4  
Wichita Falls 65.2 63.2 2.0 3.1 64.8 62.7 2.2 3.3 64.5 62.5 2.0 3.1  

 

Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted
INDUSTRY TITLE Oct 2018* Sep 2018 Oct 2017 Sep ’18 to Oct ’18 Oct ’17 to Oct ’18  
Absolute Change Percent Change Absolute Change Percent Change  
Total Nonagricultural 12,685,700 12,653,400 12,300,900 32,300 0.3 384,800 3.1  
Total Private 10,745,400 10,713,700 10,361,200 31,700 0.3 384,200 3.7  
Goods Producing 1,921,200 1,915,900 1,802,200 5,300 0.3 119,000 6.6  
   Mining and Logging 267,400 263,100 228,200 4,300 1.6 39,200 17.2  
   Construction 771,300 769,800 721,400 1,500 0.2 49,900 6.9  
   Manufacturing 882,500 883,000 852,600 -500 -0.1 29,900 3.5  
Service Providing 10,764,500 10,737,500 10,498,700 27,000 0.3 265,800 2.5  
   Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 2,537,100 2,528,200 2,464,400 8,900 0.4 72,700 3.0  
   Information 195,600 195,400 200,200 200 0.1 -4,600 -2.3  
   Financial Activities 785,200 783,100 763,500 2,100 0.3 21,700 2.8  
   Professional and Business Services 1,762,500 1,763,100 1,684,900 -600 0.0 77,600 4.6  
   Education and Health Services 1,718,300 1,713,200 1,671,300 5,100 0.3 47,000 2.8  
   Leisure and Hospitality 1,383,700 1,375,000 1,347,100 8,700 0.6 36,600 2.7  
   Other Services 441,800 439,800 427,600 2,000 0.5 14,200 3.3  
   Government 1,940,300 1,939,700 1,939,700 600 0.0 600 0.0  

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The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8942 or visit www.texasworkforce.org. To receive notifications about TWC programs and services subscribe to our email updates.