Texas added 43,400 nonfarm jobs in June and 177,900 over the past year, the Texas Workforce Commission reported, pushing total employment in the state to 14,469,600 positions.
The state’s annual job growth rate of 1.2 percent outpaced the national rate by 0.9 percentage points, according to a July 17 news release from the commission. Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 4.4 percent in June.
The state’s civilian labor force reached 15,904,900 after adding 3,400 people over the month and 29,700 over the year, the commission said. The employment estimates are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Texas’ continued job growth is a testament to the strength of our employers and robust workforce development system,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “The addition of more than 177,000 jobs over the year reinforces Texas’ reputation among employers as the best place to start and grow a business.”
Professional and Business Services led private-sector gains for the month, adding 25,500 jobs, the commission said. Leisure and Hospitality added 10,300 jobs, while Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 6,400.
Among metropolitan areas, Midland recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 3.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted, followed by San Angelo at 3.9 percent and Abilene at 4.0 percent. “With an annual growth rate of 1.2 percent, Texas continues to outpace the national average and demonstrate economic resilience,” said Brent Connett, TWC commissioner representing the public, who encouraged job seekers and employers to use the commission’s website or their local Workforce Solutions office.
The commission said its next monthly labor market data, covering July, is scheduled for release Aug. 21.