Texas enjoyed one of the nation’s strongest and fastest-growing labor markets in 2023.
The Texas labor market ended 2023 with record-breaking job growth and a robust civilian labor force that helped drive the state to new heights last year, according to the latest employment data from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The Lone Star State’s record-breaking employment growth is a clear sign of Texas’ economic strength, according to TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel.
“There are more people working in Texas today than at any other time in our history,” Daniel told The Dallas Express. “For 27 consecutive months, we have set a new monthly record for employment. On top of that, there are still approximately 500,000 jobs listed to be filled in Texas and we are projected to add more than 2.37 million jobs across the state by 2030.”
“All of Texas’ success and growth is exciting to me,” Daniel added. “We have historically outperformed the nation in a lot of ways, and my assessment of the economic outlook is that we will continue to do that.”
The state’s annual job growth rate was 2.7% in December, surpassing the nation’s 1.7% rate during the same period, data shows. In addition, the number of employed workers rose to 14.1 million, and the civilian labor force grew to about 15.2 million, marking the largest labor force in the state’s history, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
“Texas continues to grow jobs faster than the nation and smash record highs month after month. As a result, more Texans are working than ever before,” said Gov. Abbott in a news release.
“With our young, skilled, diverse, and growing workforce and strategic, ongoing investments in infrastructure, education, and workforce development, we will attract even more innovative industry leaders to our great state,” the governor said. “As the new year begins, we celebrate record-setting employment and the endless opportunities ahead for a bigger, better Texas.”
Overall, Texas has multiple industries that saw record-high employment in December. These include Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which added 7,100 jobs, as well as Private Education and Health Services and Leisure and Hospitality, which added 6,800 jobs.
“The month-over-month increase in jobs is good news for every Texan,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III in the news release. “This continued growth shows that job seekers are taking advantage of career opportunities in the Lone Star State.