Houston Daily

Texas has reported the largest 12-month job gain in the United States, according to September employment data. The state also set records for the number of people employed, the size of its labor force, and total nonfarm jobs.

Governor Greg Abbott commented on the achievement: “Texas is where free enterprise flourishes and jobs grow. That is why Texas leads all states with the largest 12-month jobs gain in the nation. From innovative startups to Fortune 500 corporations, job-creating businesses invest with confidence in Texas. With our strong and growing workforce, we will continue to expand career and technical training programs for better jobs and bigger paycheck opportunities for more Texans.”

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Workforce Commission showed that Texas’ labor force reached a record high of 15,879,000 people. The number of working Texans, including those self-employed, hit 15,222,900. Nonfarm jobs totaled 14,343,800 after an increase of 4,600 positions over the month.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, Texas gained 168,000 jobs—more than any other state—and surpassed the national annual job growth rate by 0.4 percentage points. The unemployment rate in Texas remained steady at 4.1%, which is below the national rate of 4.4%.

Governor Abbott also recently announced over $14 million in Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) training grants to higher education institutions and independent school districts across Texas for career and technical education programs. An additional $1 million in dual credit grants was awarded to train more students for high-demand occupations after graduation.