Texas Workforce Press Release
FOR RELEASE: Embargoed until 9 a.m.
DATE: March 4, 2016

MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Givens
PHONE: 512-463-8556

Texas Economy Adds 31,400 Jobs in January
State experienced job growth for 10th consecutive month
AUSTIN ⎯ 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-themonth 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.
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
tracer2.com.
- more -

Texas Workforce Commission • 512-463-8942 • www.texasworkforce.org • Equal Opportunity Employer/Program
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
Relay Texas: 800-735-2988 (TDD) or 711 (Voice)

 2-2-2-2
Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas
Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)
C.L.F.
United States

January 2016
Emp.
Unemp.

Rate

C.L.F.

December 2015
Emp.
Unemp.

Rate

C.L.F.

January 2015
Emp.
Unemp.

Rate

157,347.0

149,037.0

8,309.0

5.3

157,245.0

149,703.0

7,542.0

4.8

156,050.0

146,552.0

9,498.0

6.1

13,114.6

12,533.1

581.5

4.4

13,136.9

12,580.2

556.7

4.2

13,004.5

12,393.2

611.2

4.7

Abilene

75.2

72.3

2.9

3.8

74.7

72.1

2.6

3.5

75.3

72.3

3.0

4.0

Amarillo

129.3

125.4

3.9

3.0

130.2

126.5

3.7

2.8

129.2

124.9

4.3

3.4

1,084.0

1,049.5

34.5

3.2

1,083.5

1,050.8

32.7

3.0

1,051.5

1,011.2

40.3

3.8

Beaumont-Port Arthur

177.4

165.6

11.8

6.7

177.2

165.5

11.7

6.6

177.8

164.8

13.0

7.3

Brownsville-Harlingen

164.5

152.8

11.7

7.1

164.0

152.8

11.2

6.8

164.3

151.2

13.1

7.9

College Station-Bryan

120.5

116.3

4.2

3.5

123.2

119.3

3.9

3.2

117.5

113.0

4.5

3.8

Corpus Christi

210.2

198.6

11.6

5.5

208.8

197.8

11.0

5.3

206.8

196.1

10.7

5.2

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington

3,614.0

3,476.4

137.7

3.8

3,624.9

3,493.1

131.8

3.6

3,543.4

3,383.0

160.4

4.5

Dallas-Plano-Irving MD

2,431.6

2,340.9

90.6

3.7

2,434.8

2,348.3

86.5

3.6

2,365.6

2,258.5

107.1

4.5

Fort Worth-Arlington MD

1,182.5

1,135.4

47.0

4.0

1,190.1

1,144.8

45.3

3.8

1,177.8

1,124.5

53.4

4.5

348.5

331.3

17.2

4.9

347.3

330.9

16.4

4.7

343.5

323.6

19.9

5.8

3,253.5

3,096.9

156.5

4.8

3,261.1

3,110.8

150.3

4.6

3,244.8

3,096.1

148.7

4.6

Killeen-Temple

171.5

164.1

7.5

4.4

171.3

164.1

7.2

4.2

167.3

158.4

8.9

5.3

Laredo

113.6

108.2

5.5

4.8

113.8

108.7

5.1

4.5

111.5

106.3

5.2

4.7

Longview

100.2

94.9

5.3

5.3

100.2

95.2

5.0

5.0

102.8

98.2

4.6

4.5

Lubbock

154.2

149.1

5.1

3.3

154.4

149.6

4.7

3.1

151.9

146.4

5.5

3.6

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission

334.6

307.6

27.0

8.1

333.6

307.2

26.4

7.9

332.1

303.9

28.2

8.5

Midland

89.8

86.3

3.5

3.8

89.5

86.3

3.2

3.6

94.8

92.2

2.6

2.8

Odessa

78.4

74.2

4.2

5.4

78.3

74.3

4.0

5.1

83.5

80.6

2.9

3.4

San Angelo

55.0

52.7

2.3

4.1

55.3

53.1

2.2

4.0

55.2

53.1

2.1

3.9

1,106.0

1,065.3

40.7

3.7

1,102.5

1,063.9

38.7

3.5

1,089.1

1,043.5

45.6

4.2

Sherman-Denison

60.7

58.3

2.3

3.8

60.8

58.6

2.2

3.7

59.7

57.0

2.7

4.4

Texarkana

64.9

61.8

3.1

4.7

64.9

62.0

2.9

4.5

63.9

60.2

3.8

5.9

102.8

98.4

4.4

4.3

103.7

99.2

4.5

4.4

101.6

96.7

4.9

4.8

49.4

47.2

2.2

4.4

49.6

47.5

2.1

4.1

49.7

47.8

1.9

3.8

119.3

114.7

4.6

3.9

118.8

114.5

4.3

3.7

118.9

113.6

5.3

4.5

64.6

61.7

2.9

4.5

64.6

61.9

2.7

4.2

65.0

62.2

2.9

4.4

Texas

Austin-Round Rock

El Paso
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land

San Antonio-New Braunfels

Tyler
Victoria
Waco
Wichita Falls

TEXAS NONAGRICULTURAL WAGE AND SALARY EMPLOYMENT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
Dec '15 to Jan '16
INDUSTRY TITLE
Total Nonagricultural
Total Private
Goods Producing
Mining and Logging
Construction
Manufacturing
Service Providing
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
Information
Financial Activities
Professional and Business Services
Education and Health Services
Leisure and Hospitality
Other Services
Government

Jan 2016*

Dec 2015

Jan 2015

11,962,500
10,093,100
1,810,700
253,600
694,100
863,000
10,151,800
2,417,500
198,900
735,200
1,611,800
1,615,900
1,283,400
419,700
1,869,400

11,931,100
10,064,100
1,812,200
255,300
698,200
858,700
10,118,900
2,413,600
199,700
728,400
1,607,100
1,604,400
1,276,100
422,600
1,867,000

11,775,100
9,935,800
1,889,900
315,400
675,400
899,100
9,885,200
2,364,200
200,200
712,700
1,586,700
1,553,800
1,215,000
413,300
1,839,300

Absolute
Change
31,400
29,000
-1,500
-1,700
-4,100
4,300
32,900
3,900
-800
6,800
4,700
11,500
7,300
-2,900
2,400

Percent
Change
0.3
0.3
-0.1
-0.7
-0.6
0.5
0.3
0.2
-0.4
0.9
0.3
0.7
0.6
-0.7
0.1

Jan '15 to Jan '16
Absolute
Change

Percent
Change

187,400
157,300
-79,200
-61,800
18,700
-36,100
266,600
53,300
-1,300
22,500
25,100
62,100
68,400
6,400
30,100

###dhp
The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For
details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8942 or visit
www.texasworkforce.org. To receive notifications about TWC programs and services subscribe to our email updates.

1.6
1.6
-4.2
-19.6
2.8
-4.0
2.7
2.3
-0.6
3.2
1.6
4.0
5.6
1.5
1.6