Texas Workforce Commission
08/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/21/2026 08:05
Private Sector Fuels Continued Growth of Texas Job Market
AUSTIN ⎯ Texas added 1,600 nonfarm jobs in July to reach a total of 14,468,000 positions. Over the year, the state added 165,600 jobs for an annual growth rate of 1.2 percent, outpacing the national rate by a full percentage point.
Texas' civilian labor force registered at 15,915,600 after adding 10,800 people over the month. Over the year, Texas' civilian labor force has added 17,800 people.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas registered at 4.5 percent.
"The addition of more than 165,000 jobs over the last year highlights the growth of the Texas economy and the employers who drive it," said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. "By offering resources like our ASCEND grant and Skills for Success program, TWC is ensuring Texas' workforce development efforts evolve in stride with the needs of our private sector partners."
The Private Education and Health Services industry had the largest private sector over-the-month increase in July after adding 5,900 jobs. Professional and Business Services added 3,600 jobs over the month while Leisure and Hospitality added 3,400.
"With our labor force expanding by 10,800 people in July, it is evident that the volume of opportunities in Texas is a powerful draw for the American workforce," said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. "To sustain this momentum, TWC is committed to investing in the success of all workers, utilizing programs like Project Search to provide the vocational rehabilitation and training necessary for Texans of all abilities to thrive."
The Midland metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.4 percent in July. It was followed by the San Angelo MSA at 3.8 percent and the Abilene MSA at 3.9 percent.
"Texas' annual growth rate of 1.2 percent is outpacing the national average by a full percentage point, underscoring the dynamism of our economy," said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett. "TWC is here to help Texans capitalize on that success by offering career and technical education resources that equip students and job seekers for the specialized, high-paying jobs fueling our growth."
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 August is scheduled to be released on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
| July 2026 | June 2026 | July 2025 | ||||||||||
| C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | |
| United States | 170,235.0 | 162,800.0 | 7,435.0 | 4.4 | 170,198.0 | 162,722.0 | 7,476.0 | 4.4 | 171,646.0 | 163,799.0 | 7,847.0 | 4.6 |
| Texas | 15,955.0 | 15,188.8 | 766.3 | 4.8 | 15,921.4 | 15,140.6 | 780.8 | 4.9 | 15,889.8 | 15,180.8 | 708.9 | 4.5 |
| Abilene | 90.0 | 86.5 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 89.7 | 86.1 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 88.7 | 85.4 | 3.3 | 3.8 |
| Amarillo | 139.6 | 134.1 | 5.5 | 3.9 | 139.8 | 134.2 | 5.7 | 4.1 | 140.3 | 135.6 | 4.7 | 3.4 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | 1,568.8 | 1,506.0 | 62.8 | 4.0 | 1,568.5 | 1,504.4 | 64.1 | 4.1 | 1,556.6 | 1,500.2 | 56.5 | 3.6 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | 185.8 | 174.4 | 11.4 | 6.1 | 185.3 | 173.9 | 11.4 | 6.2 | 184.4 | 174.0 | 10.4 | 5.6 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | 189.5 | 176.3 | 13.2 | 7.0 | 188.5 | 174.7 | 13.7 | 7.3 | 192.8 | 177.9 | 14.9 | 7.7 |
| College Station-Bryan | 150.1 | 143.7 | 6.4 | 4.3 | 152.1 | 145.5 | 6.6 | 4.3 | 149.6 | 143.4 | 6.2 | 4.1 |
| Corpus Christi | 214.1 | 203.4 | 10.7 | 5.0 | 213.7 | 202.8 | 10.9 | 5.1 | 214.1 | 204.2 | 9.9 | 4.6 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | 4,592.5 | 4,382.6 | 209.9 | 4.6 | 4,574.6 | 4,361.7 | 212.9 | 4.7 | 4,574.4 | 4,384.4 | 189.9 | 4.2 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving MD | 3,130.2 | 2,987.1 | 143.2 | 4.6 | 3,116.1 | 2,970.8 | 145.3 | 4.7 | 3,122.1 | 2,992.0 | 130.1 | 4.2 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine MD | 1,462.3 | 1,395.5 | 66.8 | 4.6 | 1,458.5 | 1,391.0 | 67.5 | 4.6 | 1,452.3 | 1,392.4 | 59.9 | 4.1 |
| Eagle Pass | 25.1 | 23.0 | 2.1 | 8.3 | 25.3 | 23.0 | 2.3 | 9.2 | 25.3 | 22.9 | 2.4 | 9.7 |
| El Paso | 423.7 | 403.6 | 20.2 | 4.8 | 422.3 | 401.6 | 20.7 | 4.9 | 423.3 | 403.7 | 19.6 | 4.6 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | 3,922.2 | 3,720.5 | 201.8 | 5.1 | 3,920.5 | 3,716.1 | 204.4 | 5.2 | 3,899.7 | 3,714.2 | 185.5 | 4.8 |
| Killeen-Temple | 205.9 | 194.9 | 11.0 | 5.4 | 204.9 | 193.6 | 11.3 | 5.5 | 206.4 | 196.3 | 10.1 | 4.9 |
| Laredo | 121.9 | 116.0 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 121.8 | 115.5 | 6.3 | 5.1 | 122.4 | 116.4 | 6.0 | 4.9 |
| Longview | 130.8 | 124.0 | 6.8 | 5.2 | 130.0 | 123.2 | 6.9 | 5.3 | 130.3 | 124.0 | 6.3 | 4.8 |
| Lubbock | 188.0 | 179.9 | 8.2 | 4.4 | 187.8 | 179.4 | 8.4 | 4.5 | 187.2 | 179.7 | 7.5 | 4.0 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | 407.9 | 380.3 | 27.6 | 6.8 | 406.4 | 377.9 | 28.6 | 7.0 | 406.6 | 378.3 | 28.3 | 7.0 |
| Midland | 107.9 | 104.2 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 107.0 | 103.2 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 105.5 | 101.9 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| Odessa | 88.4 | 84.6 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 88.0 | 84.1 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 87.7 | 84.2 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| San Angelo | 62.2 | 59.9 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 62.3 | 59.8 | 2.5 | 3.9 | 61.9 | 59.8 | 2.1 | 3.5 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | 1,354.1 | 1,290.7 | 63.4 | 4.7 | 1,350.3 | 1,285.9 | 64.4 | 4.8 | 1,352.6 | 1,295.9 | 56.7 | 4.2 |
| Sherman-Denison | 73.8 | 70.4 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 73.4 | 70.0 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 73.2 | 70.2 | 3.0 | 4.1 |
| Texarkana | 62.5 | 59.5 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 62.6 | 59.5 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 62.8 | 59.8 | 3.0 | 4.7 |
| Tyler | 123.1 | 117.7 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 121.9 | 116.5 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 122.8 | 116.9 | 5.9 | 4.8 |
| Victoria | 44.5 | 42.4 | 2.1 | 4.8 | 44.6 | 42.4 | 2.2 | 4.9 | 45.1 | 43.1 | 2.0 | 4.5 |
| Waco | 147.6 | 140.9 | 6.7 | 4.6 | 147.1 | 140.3 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 147.0 | 140.7 | 6.3 | 4.3 |
| Wichita Falls | 66.0 | 63.0 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 66.2 | 63.1 | 3.1 | 4.7 | 66.8 | 64.1 | 2.7 | 4.1 |
Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted
| INDUSTRY TITLE | Jul 2026* | Jun 2026 | Jul 2025 | Jun '26 to Jul '26 | Jul '25 to Jul '26 | ||
| Absolute Change | Percent Change | Absolute Change | Percent Change | ||||
| Total Nonagricultural | 14,468,000 | 14,466,400 | 14,302,400 | 1,600 | 0.0 | 165,600 | 1.2 |
| Total Private | 12,342,400 | 12,339,100 | 12,172,000 | 3,300 | 0.0 | 170,400 | 1.4 |
| Goods Producing | 2,113,800 | 2,118,100 | 2,101,400 | -4,300 | -0.2 | 12,400 | 0.6 |
| Mining and Logging | 212,400 | 212,700 | 211,700 | -300 | -0.1 | 700 | 0.3 |
| Construction | 921,700 | 925,100 | 904,200 | -3,400 | -0.4 | 17,500 | 1.9 |
| Manufacturing | 979,700 | 980,300 | 985,500 | -600 | -0.1 | -5,800 | -0.6 |
| Service Providing | 12,354,200 | 12,348,300 | 12,201,000 | 5,900 | 0.0 | 153,200 | 1.3 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 2,817,600 | 2,817,600 | 2,786,800 | 0 | 0.0 | 30,800 | 1.1 |
| Information | 213,500 | 214,000 | 224,400 | -500 | -0.2 | -10,900 | -4.9 |
| Financial Activities | 939,700 | 944,800 | 942,800 | -5,100 | -0.5 | -3,100 | -0.3 |
| Professional and Business Services | 2,189,000 | 2,185,400 | 2,122,000 | 3,600 | 0.2 | 67,000 | 3.2 |
| Private Education and Health Services | 2,013,900 | 2,008,000 | 1,978,900 | 5,900 | 0.3 | 35,000 | 1.8 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 1,558,000 | 1,554,600 | 1,527,800 | 3,400 | 0.2 | 30,200 | 2.0 |
| Other Services | 496,900 | 496,600 | 487,900 | 300 | 0.1 | 9,000 | 1.8 |
| Government | 2,125,600 | 2,127,300 | 2,130,400 | -1,700 | -0.1 | -4,800 | -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 August 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 21, 2026 at 14:05 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]