Texas Job Growth Continues in February, More Than 20,000 Jobs Added
Press Releases
AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas labor market continued to achieve record highs for both jobs and the civilian labor force in February. The state added 20,100 positions over the month to reach a total of 14,254,200 nonfarm jobs. Texas added 182,300 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025, bringing the annual nonfarm growth rate to 1.3 percent and outpacing the national growth rate by 0.1 percentage points.
February marks 56 of 58 months of growth for Texas’ civilian labor force, which achieved another new record high of 15,770,300 after adding 19,500 people over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 334,800 people.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas registered at 4.1 percent.
“With more than 20,000 jobs added the past month, Texas continues to see solid economic growth including the labor force,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “TWC supports this growth with strategic training programs designed to address the needs of employers and connect workers to successful career pathways.”
The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities industry had the largest over-the-month increase in February after adding 7,400 jobs. In addition, Leisure and Hospitality added 6,000 jobs over the month and Construction added 5,200. The Financial Activities industry grew by 2.6 percent over the year in Texas and outperformed the industry’s growth rate nationally by 1.7 percentage points.
“Continued labor market growth through February is fueling economic expansion across Texas, creating more opportunities for Texans to find meaningful employment and improve their quality of life,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “To ensure all segments of the Texas workforce can benefit from this growth, TWC remains committed to investing in essential resources like career training, vocational rehabilitation, child care, and adult education, empowering individuals to capitalize on these new opportunities and contribute to our state's continued prosperity.”
The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.2 percent in February, followed by the Amarillo MSA at 3.3 percent and the San Angelo MSA at 3.4 percent.
“Texas led all states with more than 182,000 jobs added over the year because Texas employers continue to generate new opportunities,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza. “More Texans are working than at any point in the state’s history, and TWC can support employers by providing resources and an upskilled workforce to power their momentum.”
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 March is scheduled to be released on Friday, April 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
| February 2025 | January 2025 | February 2024 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | C.L.F. | Emp. | Unemp. | Rate | |
| United States | 170,116.0 | 162,544.0 | 7,572.0 | 4.5 | 169,814.0 | 162,347.0 | 7,467.0 | 4.4 | 167,285.0 | 160,315.0 | 6,970.0 | 4.2 |
| Texas | 15,840.5 | 15,163.8 | 676.7 | 4.3 | 15,744.8 | 15,097.1 | 647.7 | 4.1 | 15,473.1 | 14,817.8 | 655.4 | 4.2 |
| Abilene | 88.4 | 85.1 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 88.0 | 85.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 86.4 | 83.2 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| Amarillo | 140.6 | 136.0 | 4.7 | 3.3 | 139.6 | 135.2 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 136.8 | 132.1 | 4.7 | 3.4 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | 1,522.1 | 1,466.2 | 55.9 | 3.7 | 1,513.9 | 1,461.0 | 53.0 | 3.5 | 1,487.9 | 1,432.8 | 55.2 | 3.7 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | 185.7 | 175.7 | 9.9 | 5.3 | 185.5 | 175.4 | 10.0 | 5.4 | 180.2 | 170.9 | 9.3 | 5.2 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | 193.1 | 182.3 | 10.8 | 5.6 | 192.4 | 182.0 | 10.4 | 5.4 | 187.8 | 177.6 | 10.2 | 5.4 |
| College Station-Bryan | 158.5 | 152.3 | 6.2 | 3.9 | 153.7 | 148.2 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 152.4 | 146.8 | 5.6 | 3.7 |
| Corpus Christi | 212.8 | 203.2 | 9.6 | 4.5 | 210.1 | 200.8 | 9.3 | 4.4 | 209.9 | 200.7 | 9.2 | 4.4 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | 4,542.4 | 4,357.2 | 185.1 | 4.1 | 4,519.4 | 4,343.7 | 175.6 | 3.9 | 4,442.3 | 4,261.1 | 181.2 | 4.1 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving MD | 3,093.8 | 2,967.2 | 126.6 | 4.1 | 3,078.3 | 2,958.1 | 120.2 | 3.9 | 3,026.9 | 2,903.1 | 123.8 | 4.1 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine MD | 1,448.6 | 1,390.0 | 58.5 | 4.0 | 1,441.1 | 1,385.7 | 55.4 | 3.8 | 1,415.4 | 1,358.0 | 57.4 | 4.1 |
| Eagle Pass | 25.0 | 22.7 | 2.3 | 9.1 | 24.7 | 22.6 | 2.1 | 8.7 | 24.1 | 21.9 | 2.2 | 9.0 |
| El Paso | 422.7 | 404.2 | 18.5 | 4.4 | 421.5 | 403.7 | 17.8 | 4.2 | 411.2 | 392.9 | 18.3 | 4.4 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | 3,889.0 | 3,714.5 | 174.6 | 4.5 | 3,872.2 | 3,703.3 | 168.9 | 4.4 | 3,801.9 | 3,634.4 | 167.5 | 4.4 |
| Killeen-Temple | 204.2 | 194.4 | 9.8 | 4.8 | 202.9 | 193.7 | 9.2 | 4.6 | 202.1 | 193.0 | 9.1 | 4.5 |
| Laredo | 121.4 | 115.8 | 5.6 | 4.6 | 120.8 | 115.6 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 117.7 | 112.2 | 5.5 | 4.6 |
| Longview | 130.2 | 124.0 | 6.3 | 4.8 | 129.7 | 123.4 | 6.3 | 4.9 | 129.5 | 123.2 | 6.4 | 4.9 |
| Lubbock | 188.5 | 181.4 | 7.0 | 3.7 | 186.7 | 180.2 | 6.6 | 3.5 | 184.3 | 177.7 | 6.6 | 3.6 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | 402.6 | 378.1 | 24.5 | 6.1 | 401.5 | 376.4 | 25.1 | 6.2 | 392.8 | 369.6 | 23.2 | 5.9 |
| Midland | 105.7 | 102.3 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 104.7 | 101.6 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 103.2 | 100.0 | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| Odessa | 87.9 | 84.5 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 87.3 | 84.1 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 85.8 | 82.7 | 3.1 | 3.6 |
| San Angelo | 63.5 | 61.3 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 63.1 | 61.0 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 62.0 | 59.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | 1,359.4 | 1,304.5 | 54.9 | 4.0 | 1,352.3 | 1,300.4 | 51.9 | 3.8 | 1,322.6 | 1,269.8 | 52.9 | 4.0 |
| Sherman-Denison | 72.3 | 69.4 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 71.5 | 68.8 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 70.8 | 67.9 | 2.9 | 4.0 |
| Texarkana | 62.9 | 60.1 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 62.4 | 59.7 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 61.4 | 58.6 | 2.7 | 4.5 |
| Tyler | 119.7 | 114.8 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 118.9 | 114.2 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 117.1 | 112.3 | 4.8 | 4.1 |
| Victoria | 45.4 | 43.5 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 45.1 | 43.2 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 45.0 | 43.1 | 1.9 | 4.2 |
| Waco | 149.3 | 143.2 | 6.0 | 4.1 | 148.8 | 143.0 | 5.8 | 3.9 | 145.4 | 139.5 | 5.9 | 4.1 |
| Wichita Falls | 67.6 | 64.9 | 2.7 | 4.0 | 67.1 | 64.5 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 66.9 | 64.2 | 2.7 | 4.1 |
Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted
| INDUSTRY TITLE | Feb 2025* | Jan 2025 | Feb 2024 | Jan '25 to Feb '25 | Feb '24 to Feb '25 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Change | Percent Change | Absolute Change | Percent Change | ||||
| Total Nonagricultural | 14,254,200 | 14,234,100 | 14,071,900 | 20,100 | 0.1 | 182,300 | 1.3 |
| Total Private | 12,113,300 | 12,097,100 | 11,970,700 | 16,200 | 0.1 | 142,600 | 1.2 |
| Goods Producing | 2,065,100 | 2,057,900 | 2,038,500 | 7,200 | 0.3 | 26,600 | 1.3 |
| Mining and Logging | 223,900 | 220,900 | 219,900 | 3,000 | 1.4 | 4,000 | 1.8 |
| Construction | 868,800 | 863,600 | 847,100 | 5,200 | 0.6 | 21,700 | 2.6 |
| Manufacturing | 972,400 | 973,400 | 971,500 | -1,000 | -0.1 | 900 | 0.1 |
| Service Providing | 12,189,100 | 12,176,200 | 12,033,400 | 12,900 | 0.1 | 155,700 | 1.3 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 2,792,000 | 2,784,600 | 2,764,700 | 7,400 | 0.3 | 27,300 | 1.0 |
| Information | 227,000 | 227,600 | 227,100 | -600 | -0.3 | -100 | 0.0 |
| Financial Activities | 943,900 | 941,800 | 920,400 | 2,100 | 0.2 | 23,500 | 2.6 |
| Professional and Business Services | 2,130,300 | 2,133,600 | 2,117,100 | -3,300 | -0.2 | 13,200 | 0.6 |
| Private Education and Health Services | 1,946,300 | 1,949,600 | 1,919,900 | -3,300 | -0.2 | 26,400 | 1.4 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 1,518,800 | 1,512,800 | 1,503,200 | 6,000 | 0.4 | 15,600 | 1.0 |
| Other Services | 489,900 | 489,200 | 479,800 | 700 | 0.1 | 10,100 | 2.1 |
| Government | 2,140,900 | 2,137,000 | 2,101,200 | 3,900 | 0.2 | 39,700 | 1.9 |
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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.