Texas employers expanded their payrolls in January with the addition of 31,400 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs, marking the tenth consecutive month of job growth for Texas.
“Texas employers added 187,400 jobs over the past year, highlighting the diversity of our economy,” said Texas Workforce Commissioner (TWC) Chairman Andres Alcantar. “Texas Workforce Solutions continues to work with our education partners to ensure Texans have the in-demand skills required to boost job creation.”
Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent in January, down from a revised 4.6 percent in December, and remained below the national average of 4.9 percent.
“We’ve seen 157,300 private-sector jobs added over the last year, for a 1.6 percent annual growth rate,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Ruth R. Hughs. “Texas is a state that continues to welcome new employers and work with our homegrown businesses, offering them the tools they need to grow and succeed.”
The Education and Health Services industry added 11,500 jobs in January, representing the largest over-the-month gain since October 2004. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 62,100 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality employment rose for a 10th consecutive month with 7,300 jobs added in January. Manufacturing employment expanded by 4,300 jobs in January for the industry’s largest over-the-month gain since April 2014.
“Our economy continues to offer many diverse opportunities to job seekers,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “I encourage those seeking these opportunities to take advantage of the workforce services available through their local Workforce Solutions office for help finding the job that’s right
for them.”
The Amarillo Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) recorded the month’s lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a non-seasonally adjusted rate of 3.0 percent, followed by the Austin-Round Rock and Lubbock MSAs with rates of 3.2 and 3.3 percent, respectively, in January.
(Press release from the Texas Workforce Commission)