Texas Leads U.S. With 159,400 New Annual Jobs

Texas led all U.S. states in job creation for the 12 months ending in August 2026, adding 159,400 nonfarm positions. This 1.1% growth rate outpaced the national average by 0.7 percentage points. Data from the Texas Workforce Commission shows the state added 5,600 jobs in August alone, bringing the total nonfarm employment to 14,469,300. The total labor force grew to 15,932,600 people over the year.

Greg Abbott, the Governor of Texas, attributed the expansion to the state's pro-business climate. To sustain this momentum, Abbott awarded more than $1.3 million in Jobs and Education for Texans grants to four West Central Texas schools for vocational equipment. Growth was most significant in the construction, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services sectors.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 4.4%, with the lowest rates recorded in the Amarillo, Abilene, San Angelo, and Midland metropolitan areas. Texas Workforce Commission officials noted that the gains across both goods-producing and service-based industries demonstrate a balanced economic expansion.