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Texas continues to grow faster than the U.S. The state gained 391,800 nonagricultural jobs from December 2017 to December 2018, an annual growth rate of 3.2 percent, higher than the nation's employment growth rate of 1.8 percent (Table 1 and Figure 1). The nongovernment sector added 388,800 jobs, an annual growth rate of 3.7 percent, also more than the nation's employment growth rate of 2 percent in the private sector (Table 1).

​Texas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December 2018 was 3.7 percent, lower than the 4 percent rate in December 2017. The nation's rate decreased from 4.1 to 3.9 percent (Table 1).

Texas Empl​​​oyment Gr​owth Rates by Industry​

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

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 December 2018. Of the 12,744,100 nonagricultural jobs in December 2018, the highest percentage of employment by industry was in the trade industry followed by the government sector, professional and business services, education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing. Since December 2017, professional and business services; manufacturing; construction; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and mining and logging have expanded their shares of Texas employment at the expense of the trade, government sector, education and health services, leisure and hospitality, financial activities, 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​ Employment Growth Rate by Industry

​Texas’ statewide employment growth rate of 3.2 percent, or more exactly 3.1719 percent, from December 2017 to December 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 December 2017 to December 2018. The state’s professional and business services ranked first in contribution to job growth followed by trade, education and health services, construction, 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. 

Employment Growth Rates by Texas Metr​opolitan Areas

​All Texas metro areas except Victoria and Beaumont-Port Arthur had more jobs in December 2018 than in December 2017 (Table 5). Midland ranked first in job creation followed by Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Sherman-Denison, Dallas-Plano-Irving, and Austin-Round Rock. Figures 38 to 63 (shown in full report)​ show trends in annual employment growth rates for the state’s metropolitan areas.

Texas Job Sha​​re​s by Metropolitan Area

​Table 6 shows Texas metropolitan areas ranked by their shares of total Texas jobs in December 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.

Contributio​ns to Texas' Employment Growth Rate by Metropolitan Area

​The statewide employment growth rate of 3.1719 percent in Texas from December 2017 to December 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 December 2017 to December 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.

Unemploymen​t Rate by Metropolitan Area

​The state’s actual unemployment rate in December 2018 was 3.6 percent. Midland had the lowest unemployment rate followed by Amarillo, Odessa, Austin-Round Rock, College Station-Bryan, Lubbock, and Sherman-Denison (Table 8).

Employment Growth 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 December 2017 to December 2018. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land’s economy is currently driven by mining and construction; manufacturing; professional and business services; education and health services; and other services. Dallas-Plano-Irving is currently experiencing positive employment growth rates in the government sector and in all industries. San Antonio’s economy is currently driven by education and health services; mining and construction, other services, and the government sector. Fort Worth-Arlington’s economy is currently experiencing job growth rates in all industries except information industry, professional and business services, and the government sector. Austin is currently experiencing positive employment growth rates in the government sector and in all industries. El Paso’s economy is currently experiencing positive employment growth rates in the government sector and in all industries except manufacturing and information.​​

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