(The Center Square) – Another month and Texas broke all of its previous job records again.
In May, Texas marked 10 consecutive months of adding a record high number of jobs.
Texas also added jobs at a faster rate over the past 12 months than the national rate and smashed all previous historic highs for total new jobs created, the greatest number of Texans working, and the largest size of the Texas labor force in state history.
“Texas is where the future is building,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in response to May’s job report. “That is why Texas continues to grow jobs and outperform the nation in annual job growth. With America’s Best Business Climate, our strong and growing workforce, and an unwavering focus on investing for the future, we see more Texas businesses innovating and more hardworking Texans forging a path to prosperity. Texas is where today’s products are made and where tomorrow’s technologies are born. We will continue to lead the nation as we build a bigger, better Texas for decades to come.”
“For the 10th consecutive month, the state of Texas has set a record-high level for jobs, while the number of employed Texans and the state’s civilian labor force have each reached new highs for the last five months,” The Texas Workforce Commission said.
Last month, Texas reached a new high with the largest labor force ever in the state’s history at 15,262,600 after Texas’ seasonally adjusted civilian labor force grew by 35,900, according to TWC data.
Texas also reached a new high for Texans working, including the self-employed, of 14,655,700.
Texas also reached a new high for total jobs at 14,195,600 after adding 41,800 non-farm jobs in May.
The non-farm employment growth represents monthly growth in 47 of the last 49 months and annual growth for 38 consecutive months, the TWC said.
Texas’ annual job growth rate for nonfarm employment also surpassed the national job growth rate, expanding by 2.3%, outpacing the national rate by half a point.
From May 2023 to May 2024, Texas added 316,700 jobs, according to the data.
“Texas continues to outpace the nation in nearly all industries and continues to increase the number of employed Texans,” TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III said. “With job opportunities increasing, students and job seekers have multiple resources to help navigate the job market and create a career pathway.”
The industry of Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 13,300 jobs in May – the largest over-the-month increase in state history. Leisure and Hospitality added the next greatest number of 6,900 new jobs. Construction added 5,500 jobs, growing by 4.3% over the year, outpacing the national growth rate by 1.2%.
Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4%, equal to the national unemployment rate.
According to TWC data, Texas’ not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 3.8%. McAllen-Edinburgh-Mission had the highest unemployment rate of 5.7%, followed by Beaumont-Port Arthur 5.5%, and Brownsville-Harlingen’s 5.1%.
Midland had the lowest unemployment rate of 2.4% last month, followed by Amarillo’s 2.8% and College Station-Bryan’s 3%.
