The Lone Star State is basking in the glow of robust economic achievements, with Governor Greg Abbott heralding Texas' record-setting employment numbers. As reported yesterday, January 7, the state has hit an all-time high in both the number of Texans gainfully employed and the total size of its labor force. In the words of Governor Abbott, "Texas offers boundless opportunities for hardworking Texans and innovative entrepreneurs to thrive," as per the Office of the Texas Governor website. This optimism comes off the back of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics which indeed paints a promising picture for the state's labor market.
According to the official announcement, Texas boasts a labor force swelling to 15,938,500 individuals, the largest in state history. Not only that, but the number of self-employed and otherwise working Texans has reached a new peak at 15,264,700. To quickly illustrate the state's economic momentum, Texas added precisely 7,300 nonfarm jobs in the month of November. Despite these impressive numbers, the data suggests that there remain still challenges ahead in ensuring all Texans can to equally participate in the prospering economy.
Year-over-year growth from November 2024 to November 2025 saw Texas gaining 146,300 jobs. This surge outstripped any other state and exceeded the national annual job growth rate by a not insignificant 0.4 percentage points. These figures, sitting alongside a state unemployment rate of 4.2%—which edges below the national average of 4.6%—were highlights in Governor Abbott's celebration of a year chalked full of economic wins for his state.
"Thanks to the strength of our economy and our skilled workforce, we continue to attract new business investments and spur job growth across dynamic and diverse industries," Abbott proudly declared in his announcement. Indeed, Texas seems to have solidified its position as a magnet for business relocations and expansions, a fact Abbott credits to what he calls "the best business climate and strongest workforce in America," as mentioned on the Office of the Texas Governor website.
