Texas and Tennessee Report August 2026 Employment Gains

Texas and Tennessee both reported positive employment trends for August 2026, though their unemployment rates differed relative to the national average. The Texas Workforce Commission reported that Texas added 5,600 nonfarm jobs in August, bringing total employment to approximately 14.5 million. Growth was led by the leisure and hospitality sector, followed by professional and business services and manufacturing. Over the past year, Texas added 159,400 jobs, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.7 percentage points.

Texas' unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.4 percent in August, though it remained 0.3 percent higher than the national average of 4.1 percent. Regionally, Midland recorded the state's lowest unemployment rate at 3.3 percent. Joe Esparza, Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission, stated that the annual job gains reinforce the state's status as a premier destination for employers.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported that Tennessee's unemployment rate held steady at 3.4 percent in August, matching its yearly low and remaining lower than the national rate. Tennessee added 1,800 nonfarm jobs between July and August, with the most significant gains in government, construction, and leisure and hospitality. Over the last year, the state added 16,400 jobs, primarily driven by the healthcare and social assistance sector.