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The Texas economy accelerated job creation in July 2018.  The state gained 377,100 nonagricultural jobs from July 2017 to July 2018, an annual growth rate of 3.1 percent, higher than the nation's employment growth rate of 1.6 percent (Table 1 and Figure 1). The nongovernment sector added 372,700 jobs, an annual growth rate of 3.6 percent, also higher than the nation's employment growth rate of 1.9 percent in the private sector (Table 1).

Texas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July 2018 was 4 percent, lower than the 4.1 percent rate in July 2017. The nation's rate decreased from 4.3 to 3.9 percent (Table 1). 

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Texas Employment G​rowth Rates by Industry

Table 2 shows Texas industries ranked by employment growth rate from July 2017 to July 2018. All Texas industries except the information industry had more jobs in July 2018 than in July 2017. The mining and logging industry ranked first in job creation followed by construction; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and transportation, warehousing, and utilities. Figures 2 to 13 (shown in full report)​ show trends in employment growth rates by industry.​

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Texas Job​ Shares by Industry and the Government Sector

Table 3 shows Texas industries and the state's government sector ranked by their shares of Texas jobs in July 2018. Of the 12,596,700 nonagricultural jobs in July 2018, the highest percentage of employment by industry was in the trade industry followed by government sector, professional and business services, education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing. Since July 2017, professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; construction; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; other services; and mining and logging have expanded their shares of Texas employment at the expense of the trade, government sector, education and health services, manufacturing, financial activities, and the information industry. Figures 14 to 25 (shown in full report) show trends in shares of total Texas jobs by industry.​

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Contributions to Texas Employm​ent Growth Rate by Industry

Texas' statewide employment growth rate of 3.1 percent, or more exactly 3.086 percent, from July 2017 to July 2018 is the weighted average of employment growth rates for all Texas industries for the period. Weights are shares of jobs by industry. The contribution of each industry to the statewide employment growth rate is equal to the employment growth rate of that industry multiplied by its share of Texas jobs. Table 4 shows Texas industries and the state's government sector ranked by their contributions to Texas employment growth rates from July 2017 to July 2018. The state's professional and business services ranked first in contribution to job growth followed by construction, leisure and hospitality, trade, education and health services, mining and logging, and manufacturing. Figures 26 to 37 (shown in full report) show trends in contributions of Texas industries to Texas job growth rates.​

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Employm​​ent Growth Rates by Texas Metropolitan Areas

All Texas metro areas except Corpus Christi and Victoria had more jobs in July 2018 than in July 2017 (Table 5). Midland ranked first in job creation followed by Dallas-Plano-Irving, College Station-Bryan, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, and Tyler. Figures 38 to 63 (shown in full report) show trends in annual employment growth rates for the state's metropolitan areas.​

Texas Job S​​hares by Metropolitan Area

Table 6 shows Texas metropolitan areas ranked by their shares of total Texas jobs in July 2018. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land had the largest share of Texas jobs followed by Dallas-Plano-Irving, Austin-Round Rock, Fort Worth-Arlington, San Antonio-New Braunfels, El Paso, and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission. Figures 64 to 89 (shown in full report) show trends in metropolitan shares of total Texas jobs.​

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Contributions to Texas​' Employment Growth Rate by Metropolitan Area

The statewide employment growth rate of 3.086 percent in Texas from July 2017 to July 2018 is the weighted average of employment growth rates of all Texas metros for the period. Weights are shares of jobs by area. The contribution of each metro to the statewide employment growth rate is equal to the employment growth rate in that area multiplied by its share of Texas jobs. Table 7 shows Texas metros ranked by their contributions to Texas employment growth rates from July 2017 to July 2018. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ranked first followed by Dallas-Plano-Irving, Austin-Round Rock, Fort Worth-Arlington, San Antonio-New Braunfels, Midland, El Paso, and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission. Figures 90 to 115 (shown in full report) show trends in contributions of Texas metros to total Texas job growth rates. ​

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Unem​ployment Rate by Metr​​opolitan Area

The state's actual unemployment rate in July 2018 was 4 percent. Midland had the lowest unemployment rate followed by Amarillo, Odessa, Austin-Round Rock, College Station-Bryan, and Sherman-Denison (Table 8). ​

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Employment Grow​th Rates by Industry in Largest Texas Metropolitan Areas

Table 9 shows annual growth rates of employment by industry in the six largest Texas metropolitan areas from July 2017 to July 2018. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land's economy is currently driven by mining and construction; professional and business services; manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; and financial activities. Dallas-Plano-Irving is currently experiencing positive employment growth rates in all industries as well as the government sector. San Antonio's economy is currently driven by mining and construction, education and health services, and other services. Fort Worth-Arlington's economy is currently experiencing job growth rates in all industries except information and other services. Austin is currently experiencing positive employment growth rates in all industries except education and health services and the government sector. The El Paso economy is currently driven by professional and business services, mining and construction, education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and financial activities.​

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