(The Center Square) – This year, Texas continued its dominance over the entire country by leading in job growth. Texas added more jobs over the last 12 months than any other state.
It also broke three of its own employment records, again, as it did in consecutive previous months. Texas also broke three of its previous records, reaching all-time highs for having the greatest total number of jobs, the greatest number of Texans working, and the largest labor force in state history.
In November, Texas reached a new historic high for total jobs at 14,094,900 after adding 26,800 non-farm jobs in November.
The Lone Star State also reached a new historic high for all Texans working, including self-employed, totaling 14,576,500.
Texas also reached a new high last month for having the largest labor force in state history of 15,192,900.
With November’s job numbers, Texas reported 33 months of uninterrupted job growth.
“Texas dominates as America’s jobs engine, again adding more jobs over the last 12 months than any state in the nation,” Gov. Greg Abbott said. “I am proud that more Texans are working than ever before, thanks to employers who continue to invest and grow jobs here. Texas serves as a beacon of opportunity, proving that when given the freedom to aspire and the foundation to succeed, businesses flourish and people prosper. As we look to the new year, we will continue to work together and safeguard the promise of an even bigger, brighter Texas for generations to come.”
The Texas Workforce Commission explained that Texas “set new record high levels in each of the last 26 months and added 407,100 positions since November 2022, ranking No. 1 in the nation in over the year increase of seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.”
Texas’ employment growth rate of 3% annual growth from November 2022 to November 2023 outpaced the national rate of 1.8%.
The jobs numbers are consistent with Texas’ economy expanding faster than the national economy as a whole for four consecutive quarters.
In the second quarter of 2023, real GDP—the value of all goods and services produced—grew in Texas at an annual rate of 4.9%, well ahead of the national rate of 2.1%.
In response to Texas’ economic expansion dominance, Gov. Abbott said, “Texas’ continuing economic expansion, well ahead of the United States as a whole for the fourth quarter in a row, is further proof that when given the freedom to aspire, businesses invest and people prosper.”
In 2023, Texas also won numerous awards for its top economic and business climate. Texas ranked first in the U.S. for having the best business climate by Site Selection Magazine and won the magazine’s Governor’s Cup award for total capital investment projects in 2022.
Texas also won the magazine’s Governor’s Cup for a record 11th consecutive year for having the most job-creating business relocations and expansions in the country.
Chief Executive Magazine named Texas as the “Best State for Business” for a record-breaking 19 years in a row this year. Business Facilities Magazine also ranked Texas as the state with the Best Business Climate in its 19th Annual Rankings Report.
Texas was named the best business climate in the U.S. this year in Development Counsellors International’s triennial survey.
Six of the top 10 counties in the entire country that ranked as talent and economic powerhouses were in Texas, according to Lightcast’s 2023 Talent Attraction Scorecard.
“The Texas labor market has continued to thrive month after month, and continues to lead the nation in many categories,” TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza said. “As we head into 2024, the future looks bright for Texas employers across the state seeking to expand their business and tap into the state’s growing workforce.”
