Texas Workforce Commission
05/22/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/22/2026 08:20
Texas Job Market Steady in April
AUSTIN ⎯ Texas reached a total of 14,394,300 nonfarm jobs after adding 300 positions in April. Over the year, the state added 82,400 jobs for an annual nonfarm growth rate of 0.6 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.4 percentage points.
Texas' civilian labor force registered at 15,894,800 after decreasing by 21,800 over the month. Over the year, Texas' civilian labor force has added 49,200 people.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas remained stable at 4.3 percent.
"Texas continues to demonstrate economic resilience by outpacing the national growth rate and reaching nearly 14.4 million jobs," said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. "Through our support for initiatives like the Texas Jobs Council, we are gathering the insights necessary to keep our workforce competitive, so Texas employers can continue to lead their industries and drive our state's growth."
The Professional and Business Services industry had the largest private sector over-the-month increase in April after adding 4,700 jobs. Construction added 3,500 jobs over the month while Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 1,300. Construction posted the highest annual growth rate of any major industry for the 21st month in a row at 2.1 percent in April.
"The growth we see across industries like construction and professional services translates to more high-demand opportunities for working Texans," said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. "TWC is committed to helping all Texans access these opportunities, which is why we continue to prioritize support for foster youth transitioning into the workforce and champion Second Chance initiatives that help people find paths to stable, successful careers."
The Midland metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 2.9 percent in April. It was followed by the Abilene MSA at 3.0. The College Station-Bryan and San Angelo MSAs registered at 3.1 percent.
"To maintain a strong labor market, we must ensure that every Texan has a chance to enter the workforce, pursue their career goals, and achieve prosperity," said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett. "TWC is enabling more Texans to contribute to the overall strength of our economy through services like Vocational Rehabilitation and essential child care support for working families."
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 May is scheduled to be released on Friday, June 19, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
| April 2026 | March 2026 | April 2025 | ||||||||||
| C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | |
| United States | 169,548.0 | 162,781.0 | 6,768.0 | 4.0 | 170,102.0 | 162,764.0 | 7,337.0 | 4.3 | 170,650.0 | 164,069.0 | 6,582.0 | 3.9 |
| Texas | 15,867.9 | 15,235.2 | 632.8 | 4.0 | 15,852.2 | 15,203.2 | 649.0 | 4.1 | 15,903.9 | 15,309.9 | 594.0 | 3.7 |
| Abilene | 89.4 | 86.7 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 89.5 | 86.6 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 89.5 | 86.8 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| Amarillo | 139.9 | 135.4 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 139.2 | 134.5 | 4.7 | 3.4 | 140.7 | 136.9 | 3.8 | 2.7 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | 1,557.4 | 1,505.1 | 52.3 | 3.4 | 1,556.9 | 1,503.6 | 53.4 | 3.4 | 1,558.4 | 1,509.7 | 48.7 | 3.1 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | 184.4 | 174.9 | 9.5 | 5.1 | 184.2 | 174.5 | 9.7 | 5.2 | 184.9 | 176.4 | 8.5 | 4.6 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | 188.6 | 176.8 | 11.8 | 6.2 | 189.0 | 176.9 | 12.1 | 6.4 | 191.6 | 178.0 | 13.6 | 7.1 |
| College Station-Bryan | 156.8 | 151.9 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 156.1 | 151.1 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 158.0 | 153.4 | 4.6 | 2.9 |
| Corpus Christi | 213.7 | 204.9 | 8.8 | 4.1 | 213.0 | 203.8 | 9.3 | 4.3 | 213.9 | 205.7 | 8.2 | 3.8 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | 4,554.0 | 4,381.5 | 172.5 | 3.8 | 4,552.5 | 4,377.0 | 175.5 | 3.9 | 4,560.4 | 4,399.1 | 161.4 | 3.5 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving MD | 3,106.3 | 2,987.4 | 118.9 | 3.8 | 3,106.4 | 2,985.8 | 120.7 | 3.9 | 3,110.9 | 3,000.0 | 111.0 | 3.6 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine MD | 1,447.7 | 1,394.1 | 53.6 | 3.7 | 1,446.1 | 1,391.2 | 54.9 | 3.8 | 1,449.5 | 1,399.1 | 50.4 | 3.5 |
| Eagle Pass | 25.3 | 23.1 | 2.1 | 8.5 | 25.3 | 23.0 | 2.4 | 9.4 | 25.7 | 22.9 | 2.7 | 10.6 |
| El Paso | 421.9 | 404.9 | 16.9 | 4.0 | 421.9 | 404.4 | 17.5 | 4.1 | 422.4 | 405.7 | 16.6 | 3.9 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | 3,896.3 | 3,728.4 | 167.9 | 4.3 | 3,901.0 | 3,729.6 | 171.5 | 4.4 | 3,911.2 | 3,755.0 | 156.2 | 4.0 |
| Killeen-Temple | 205.2 | 196.1 | 9.1 | 4.4 | 204.9 | 195.6 | 9.3 | 4.6 | 206.1 | 197.7 | 8.4 | 4.1 |
| Laredo | 121.5 | 116.4 | 5.1 | 4.2 | 121.6 | 116.3 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 122.4 | 116.9 | 5.5 | 4.5 |
| Longview | 129.1 | 123.7 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 129.1 | 123.5 | 5.6 | 4.3 | 130.6 | 125.4 | 5.2 | 4.0 |
| Lubbock | 187.7 | 181.7 | 6.1 | 3.2 | 187.0 | 180.8 | 6.2 | 3.3 | 188.3 | 182.6 | 5.6 | 3.0 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | 405.6 | 382.6 | 23.0 | 5.7 | 405.8 | 381.8 | 24.0 | 5.9 | 405.4 | 382.8 | 22.6 | 5.6 |
| Midland | 107.2 | 104.1 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 106.1 | 103.0 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 107.8 | 104.9 | 2.8 | 2.6 |
| Odessa | 87.7 | 84.5 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 87.5 | 84.2 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 88.6 | 85.8 | 2.8 | 3.2 |
| San Angelo | 62.1 | 60.1 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 62.0 | 60.0 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 62.3 | 60.5 | 1.7 | 2.8 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | 1,348.6 | 1,296.8 | 51.7 | 3.8 | 1,346.5 | 1,293.2 | 53.3 | 4.0 | 1,355.4 | 1,308.2 | 47.2 | 3.5 |
| Sherman-Denison | 73.2 | 70.3 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 73.1 | 70.2 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 72.7 | 70.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 |
| Texarkana | 62.0 | 59.5 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 62.0 | 59.3 | 2.7 | 4.3 | 62.1 | 59.7 | 2.3 | 3.8 |
| Tyler | 121.0 | 116.7 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 120.8 | 116.3 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 121.0 | 117.0 | 4.0 | 3.3 |
| Victoria | 44.8 | 43.0 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 44.7 | 42.8 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 45.0 | 43.4 | 1.6 | 3.6 |
| Waco | 146.8 | 141.5 | 5.3 | 3.6 | 146.8 | 141.3 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 146.4 | 141.4 | 5.0 | 3.4 |
| Wichita Falls | 66.1 | 63.8 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 66.2 | 63.6 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 66.8 | 64.6 | 2.2 | 3.2 |
Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted
| INDUSTRY TITLE | Apr 2026* | Mar 2026 | Apr 2025 | Mar '26 to Apr '26 | Apr '25 to Apr '26 | ||
| Absolute Change | Percent Change | Absolute Change | Percent Change | ||||
| Total Nonagricultural | 14,394,300 | 14,394,000 | 14,311,900 | 300 | 0.0 | 82,400 | 0.6 |
| Total Private | 12,263,200 | 12,263,400 | 12,179,800 | -200 | 0.0 | 83,400 | 0.7 |
| Goods Producing | 2,102,400 | 2,100,600 | 2,102,200 | 1,800 | 0.1 | 200 | 0.0 |
| Mining and Logging | 208,700 | 208,100 | 215,700 | 600 | 0.3 | -7,000 | -3.2 |
| Construction | 917,000 | 913,500 | 898,300 | 3,500 | 0.4 | 18,700 | 2.1 |
| Manufacturing | 976,700 | 979,000 | 988,200 | -2,300 | -0.2 | -11,500 | -1.2 |
| Service Providing | 12,291,900 | 12,293,400 | 12,209,700 | -1,500 | 0.0 | 82,200 | 0.7 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 2,800,200 | 2,798,900 | 2,787,300 | 1,300 | 0.0 | 12,900 | 0.5 |
| Information | 217,300 | 216,900 | 223,300 | 400 | 0.2 | -6,000 | -2.7 |
| Financial Activities | 940,100 | 942,900 | 942,200 | -2,800 | -0.3 | -2,100 | -0.2 |
| Professional and Business Services | 2,163,500 | 2,158,800 | 2,121,900 | 4,700 | 0.2 | 41,600 | 2.0 |
| Private Education and Health Services | 2,007,400 | 2,007,900 | 1,978,400 | -500 | 0.0 | 29,000 | 1.5 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 1,539,800 | 1,544,300 | 1,531,900 | -4,500 | -0.3 | 7,900 | 0.5 |
| Other Services | 492,500 | 493,100 | 492,600 | -600 | -0.1 | -100 | 0.0 |
| Government | 2,131,100 | 2,130,600 | 2,132,100 | 500 | 0.0 | -1,000 | 0.0 |
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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 May 22, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 22, 2026 at 14:20 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]