Texas has reached record-high employment levels, Governor Greg Abbott announced in a report released by the Governor’s Office on August 15. According to the report, the state recorded its highest-ever total nonfarm jobs in July, with the workforce reaching an all-time high. Officials said the new figures reflect continued growth in the state’s labor market.
In the wake of record-setting job growth, Governor Greg Abbott praised the strength of the Texas workforce and the state’s economic policies. “Texas continues to see sustained job growth thanks to having the best business climate in America and the productivity of hardworking Texans,” Abbott said. State officials noted that recent laws expanding career training programs are intended to improve access to better-paying opportunities. According to the Governor’s Office, Texas continues to lead the nation in yearly job growth, with employment gains outpacing the national average by 0.6 percentage points.
Let’s break down these tallies, though, and see the specifics that brought on this economic applause. First off, Texas now boasts a workforce of 15,213,700 individuals, including those self-employed—a figure that's unprecedented in the state. The nonfarm job sector also experienced a swell, clocking in at 14,333,800 positions after tacking on an additional 8,700 jobs over the month. And in a year-over-year measurement, the job counter ticked up by 232,500, which Governor Abbott’s team notes as racing beyond the national rate. These metrics peel back to reveal a civilian labor force now totaling 15,848,800 after a bolster of 195,900 people in the past year. Interestingly, the unemployment rate, however, remained unchanged at 4.0% come July.
The Governor’s announcement also came with a reminder for Texans hit by the July floods. Those in the designated disaster areas have a resource in Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Applications for these benefits, according to the report from the Governor’s Office, have until September 4, 2025, to be submitted. Expanding beyond immediate aid, Governor Abbott also revealed a further boost to education with a $1.6 million injection into the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) initiative. This grant aims to support career and technical education programs, with a pointed focus on South Texas regions.
