The latest jobs report is out, and Texas is at the top of the list, adding more positions than any other state in the country last month.
New data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Texas gained 43,400 nonfarm jobs in June, pushing the state to a record high of 14,469,600 total nonfarm positions.
Over the past 12 months, Texas added 177,900 jobs, again leading the nation, at a growth rate that outpaced the national average by nearly a full percentage point.
Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX)was quick to celebrate. "Our greatest natural resource is the people of our great state; that is why Texas leads the nation in job creation," he said, crediting the state's skilled workforce, business-friendly environment, and quality of life as the driving forces behind the numbers.
Growth Rate
The job growth was spread across multiple industries. Professional and Business Services led the way with 25,500 new positions added in June alone, followed by Leisure and Hospitality with 10,300 jobs and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities with 6,400. Construction also posted solid gains, adding 5,200 jobs over the month and nearly 25,000 compared to a year ago.
The numbers put Texas in a class of its own nationally.
While most states saw little change in employment last month, Texas was one of only three states to post statistically significant job gains in June.
Minnesota added 13,200 jobs, and New Hampshire added 4,500, but neither came close to Texas' total. West Virginia was the only state to see a meaningful decline, losing 9,100 positions.
Texas' labor force also continued to expand, reaching nearly 15.9 million people, a sign that workers are continuing to move to and enter the state's job market in meaningful numbers.
Since January 2015, Texas has added more than 2.6 million jobs, a figure Abbott and state officials regularly point to as evidence of the state's long-term economic strength.
The Texas Workforce Commission noted that the state's annual growth rate of 1.2 percent continues to outpace the broader national economy, reinforcing Texas' standing as one of the country's most attractive destinations for businesses and job seekers alike.
