Texas is once again staking its claim as America’s economic engine, topping the charts for job creation over the past 12 months, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a report from the Texas Workforce Commission.
From March 2024 to March 2025, the Lone Star State added more jobs than any other state, with 192,100 new “nonfarm” positions alone, surpassing the country’s collective job growth rate.
The surge in hiring across the state has now pushed Texas’ employment across multiple job sectors to all-time highs.
Some key milestones include a record-high labor force of 15.78 million Texans, a record number of working Texans, including self-employed jobs, totaling 15.14 million, and a peak of 14.28 million total nonfarm jobs, boosted by a March 2025 gain of 26,500 new jobs.
Governor Greg Abbott says the state’s momentum in creating jobs is due to a blend of new state policies and a business friendly environment.
“Texas leads the nation in job creation thanks to our booming economy and highly skilled workforce,” Abbott said in a press release.
“Every month, Texas welcomes businesses from across the country and around the world to innovate and invest in our great state. By funding our schools more than ever before and expanding career and technical training programs, we will prepare more Texans for better job and bigger paycheck opportunities to build a more prosperous Texas,” the governor added.
Abbott also pointed to recent investments in workforce development as a big reason for the employment uptick.
Last week, Abbott’s office announced an award of over $1.3 million in job training grants to Collin County Community College’s district, hoping to boost preparation for workers in high-demand job fields like healthcare, accounting, and manufacturing.
Meanwhile, Texas lawmakers are pushing forward new legislation to strengthen the state’s pipeline from education to employment. Two bills, House Bill 20 and House Bill 120, both moved forward and out of the Texas House this week. Each bill aims to expand career and technical education programs, allowing students to transition directly from graduation into high-paying jobs without needing a traditional four-year degree.