Nine MSAs in Texas experienced an over-the-month increase in their unemployment rate in March, Eight MSA’s experienced a decrease and eight MSA’s experienced no change…
The Texas Monthly Labor Market Review brings you the most current labor market highlights and happenings across the Lone Star State.
The information that follows is produced and published on a monthly basis and includes data on non-agricultural job trends, the labor force, job postings, and other relevant indicators for both the state and sub-state areas.
Additional data and historical information is available from the Texas Workforce Commission website: Tracer2.com.
Total Non-agricultural Wage and Salary employment grew by 32,000 jobs in March following a revised increase of 49,800 jobs in February.
Employment growth since January was nearly double the amount of jobs added in 2017 over the same time frame with 81,800 jobs added for the current year.
Both the Goods Producing and Service Providing sectors added jobs over the month, with Goods Producing sector jobs increasing in 14 out of the previous 15 months.
Total Non-farm annual growth remained unchanged at 2.4 percent and has remained above 2.0 percent for five consecutive months.
Current Employment Statistics – Statewide Industry Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Highlights
- The Mining and Logging industry added 13,200 positions over the first three months of 2018 for the industry’s strongest Q1 performance in recorded history.
- Construction employment expanded by 12,200 jobs during the first quarter of 2018 for the industry’s largest Q1 employment gain since 2013.
- Employment in Durable Goods grew by 17,900 jobs over the year and continues to drive the Manufacturing industry’s job growth.
Current Employment Statistics – Metro Areas (Seasonally Adjusted)
Total Non-agricultural Wage and Salary employment grew by 32,000 jobs in March following a revised increase of 49,800 jobs in February.
Employment growth since January was nearly double the amount of jobs added in 2017 over the same time frame with 81,800 jobs added for the current year.
Both the Goods Producing and Service Providing sectors added jobs over the month, with Goods Producing sector jobs increasing in 14 out of the previous 15 months.
Total Non-farm annual growth remained unchanged at 2.4 percent and has remained above 2.0 percent for five consecutive months.
Highlights
(Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) industry data are not seasonally adjusted)
- Sixteen out of 26 areas expanded in employment in March for a combined increase of 21,900 jobs. Twenty-two areas grew over the year, while four contracted.
- The Houston-the WoodlandsSugar Land MSA led all areas with 8,000 positions added over the month.
- In percentage terms, the Midland MSA outperformed all areas with a March employment gain of 1.0 percent.
- The Midland MSA also lead all areas with an annual growth rate of 9.3 percent in March. Per not seasonally adjusted data, Mining, Logging, and Construction continued to drive much of this growth with 6,000 jobs added since March 2017.
- Annual employment loss was greatest in the Corpus Christi MSA with a decrease of 2,800 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality continued to shed the most jobs in the area with a loss of 2,000 jobs recorded over-the-year.
Local Area Unemployment Stats
County Highlights
- Unemployment rates varied considerably across counties, ranging from a low of 1.9 percent in Hartley County to a high of 11.1 percent in Willacy County.
- Thirty-four counties had an unemployment rate of 3.0 percent or less.
- Morris County experienced the largest unemployment rate decrease of 3.2 percentage points over the year.
- In March 2018, unemployment rates decreased in 110 of the 254 counties over the month. Seventy counties were unchanged over the month, while seventy-four counties increased.
- Over the year, the civilian labor force increased in 160 counties. One county was unchanged over the year, while the other 93 counties in the state experienced a decline.
Metro Area Highlights
- Nine MSAs in Texas experienced an over-the-month increase in their unemployment rate in March, Eight MSA’s experienced a decrease and eight MSA’s experienced no change.
- Over the year, 24 Texas MSAs saw a decrease in their unemployment rate, with 3 of them experiencing a decrease of one percentage point or more. Odessa experienced the largest over the year change, dropping 1.8 percentage points.
Current Population Survey
Highlights
- The unemployment rate for males declined by 1.2 percentage points over the year to a rate of 3.9 percent, while the rate for women decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.3 percent.
- The veteran unemployment rate was steady over-the-month at a rate of 3.8 percent.
- Individuals with some College education or associate degree had a slightly lower unemployment rate than those with less than a High School Diploma. Those with a Bachelor’s degree and higher continue to have a lower unemployment rate than those with a High School Diploma or less.
- Of the new entrants into Texas’ labor force in March, more were women (22,800) than men (22,400).
- The number of people not in the labor force because they are discouraged over job prospects in Texas stands at 35,000, down from a level of 36,500 a year ago.
March 2018 Employment Stats and graphics by Texas Workforce Commission.