Texas leads U.S. in job growth

Texas set new employment highs in August, adding 16,400 nonfarm jobs and bringing total employment in the state to 13,530,100. Since last August, Texas has added 726,900 jobs.

Texas employers added more jobs in August than in any previous month in recorded state history, surpassing the previous months’ record.

It also broke a new record for total labor force at nearly 14.6 million, with the Texas labor force participation rate above the national average at 63.8%.

It also broke a new record for total labor force at nearly 14.6 million, with the Texas labor force participation rate above the national average at 63.8%.

The Metropolitan Statistical Areas with the lowest unemployment rate was Amarillo and Austin-Round Rock of 3%, followed by Midland’s 3.3%, and 3.5% each in Abilene, College Station-Bryan, Lubbock and San Angelo. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission has the highest unemployment rate of 7.7% followed by Beaumont-Port Arthur’s 7.1% and Brownsville-Harlingen’s 6.4%.