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The Texas economy gained 300,000 nonagricultural jobs from September 2018 to September 2019, an annual growth rate of 2.4 percent, higher than the nation's employment growth rate of 1.4 percent (Table 1 and Figure 1). The nongovernment sector added 290,500 jobs, an annual growth rate of 2.7 percent, also more than the nation's employment growth rate of 1.6 percent in the private sector (Table 1).

Texas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September 2019 was 3.4 percent, lower than the 3.7 percent rate in September 2018. The nation's rate decreased from 3.7 to 3.5 percent (Table 1). 

Texas Employment G​rowth Rates by Industry

​​Table 2 shows Texas industries ranked by employment growth rate from September 2018 to September 2019. All Texas industries except the information industry had more jobs in September 2019 than in September 2018. The construction industry ranked first in job creation followed by leisure and hospitality; other services; financial activities; manufacturing; education and health services; 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 t​​he Government Sector

Table 3 shows Texas industries and the state’s government sector ranked by their shares of Texas jobs in September 2019. Of the 12,860,000 nonagricultural jobs in September 2019, the highest percentage of employment by industry was in the government sector followed by trade, professional and business services, education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing. Since September 2018, education and health services; leisure and hospitality; manufacturing; financial activities; construction; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and other services have expanded their shares of Texas employment at the expense of the government sector, trade, professional and business services, mining and logging, and the information industry. Figures 14 to 25 (shown in full report)​ show trends in shares of total Texas jobs by industry.

Contributions to Texas Emp​loyment Growth Rate by Industry

Texas’ statewide employment growth rate of 2.4 percent, or more exactly 2.3885 percent, from September 2018 to September 2019 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 September 2018 to September 2019. Leisure and hospitality ranked first in contribution to job growth followed by construction, education and health services, professional and business services, financial activities, and manufacturing. Figures 26 to 37 (shown in full report)​ show trends in contributions of Texas industries to Texas job growth rates. 

Employmen​​t Growth Rates by Texas Metropolitan Areas

All Texas metro areas except Wichita Falls, Longview, and Victoria had more jobs in September 2019 than in September 2018 (Table 5). Dallas-Plano-Irving ranked first in job creation followed by San Antonio-New Braunfels, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, and Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood. Figures 38 to 63 (shown in full report)​ show trends in annual employment growth rates for the state’s metropolitan areas.

​​​Texas Job Shares by Metropolitan Area

Table 6 shows Texas metropolitan areas ranked by their shares of total Texas jobs in September 2019. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land had the largest share of Texas jobs followed by Dallas-Plano-Irving, Austin-Round Rock, San Antonio-New Braunfels, Fort Worth-Arlington, El Paso, and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission. Figures 64 to 89 (shown in full report)​ show trends in metropolitan shares of total Texas jobs.

Contributions t​​o Texas' Employment Growth Rate by Metropolitan Area

The statewide employment growth rate of 2.3885 percent in Texas from September 2018 to September 2019 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 September 2018 to September 2019. Dallas-Plano-Irving ranked first followed by Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, San Antonio-New Braunfels, Fort Worth-Arlington, Austin-Round Rock, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, and Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood. Figures 90 to 115 (shown in full report)​ show trends in contributions of Texas metros to total Texas job growth rates.

​​Unemployment Rate by Metropolitan Area

Employment Growth Rates by Indust​ry in Largest Texas Metropolitan Areas

​Table 9 shows annual growth rates of employment by industry in the six largest Texas metropolitan areas from September 2018 to September 2019. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Dallas-Plano-Irving are currently experiencing positive employment growth rates in the government sector and in all industries except information. San Antonio-New Braunfels is currently experiencing employment growth in the area’s government sector and in all industries except manufacturing. Fort Worth-Arlington’s economy is currently driven by financial activities; manufacturing; education and health services; leisure and hospitality; and trade, transportation, and utilities. Austin is currently experiencing positive employment growth rates in the government sector and in all industries except education and health services. El Paso’s economy is currently experiencing positive employment growth rates in the government sector and in all industries except manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; information; and professional and business services.

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