Texas Workforce Commission

04/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/03/2026 08:11

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

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.

Texas Workforce Commission published this content on April 03, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 03, 2026 at 14:11 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]