The Partnership sends updates for the most important economic indicators each month. If you would like to opt-in to receive these updates, please click here.
Metro Houston lost 141,300 jobs in ’20, according to data released today by the Texas Workforce Commission. This was the worst single-year loss on record for the region. Prior to ’20, the worst year was ’09, during the height of the Great Recession, when the region shed 110,500 jobs.
Today’s jobs report shows that Houston continues to recover from the devastating losses of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March and April of ’20, employers laid off 350,200 workers. Since then, Houston has recouped 214,500 of those losses, leaving the metro area 135,700 jobs shy of where it stood in February ’20, the month prior to the onset of the COVID-19 recession.
In a typical year, one in which high oil prices aren’t over-stimulating the economy nor low oil prices impeding growth, the region creates 60,000 to 70,000 jobs. This suggests it will take Houston at least two years of normal growth to return to pre-COVID employment levels.
Several sectors (see table) finished ’20 with healthy jobs gains. A few of the highlights:
Job gains, however, were weighed down by losses in: energy, construction, manufacturing and arts/entertainment. Also, substantial losses occurred in hotels, restaurants and bars.
Although hiccups occurred along the way, Houston’s unemployment rate spent most of the year trending downwards.
Change in Nonfarm Payroll Employment, Metro Houston December ’19 to December ’20 |
||
Jobs Gained/Lost |
% Change |
|
Total Nonfarm |
-141,300 |
-4.4 |
Goods Producing |
-60,300 |
-10.9 |
.Energy |
-14,000 |
-17.8 |
...Oil and Gas Extraction |
-2,600 |
-6.9 |
...Support Activities for Mining |
-11,100 |
-28.3 |
.Construction |
-24,500 |
-10.1 |
.Manufacturing |
-21,800 |
-9.3 |
..Durable Goods |
-21,500 |
-14.3 |
...Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing |
-5,700 |
-10.7 |
....Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing |
-6,500 |
-21.5 |
..Non-Durable Goods |
-300 |
-0.4 |
...Chemical Manufacturing |
700 |
1.7 |
Service Providing |
-81,000 |
-3.1 |
...Wholesale Trade |
-19,000 |
-10.7 |
...Retail Trade |
-4,600 |
-1.5 |
...Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities |
7,600 |
4.7 |
.....Air Transportation |
-2,300 |
-11.4 |
..Information |
-2,800 |
-8.6 |
..Financial Activities |
-5,000 |
-3.0 |
...Finance and Insurance |
1,500 |
1.4 |
...Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |
-6,500 |
-10.0 |
...Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services |
6,400 |
2.6 |
....Administrative and Support Services |
-1,100 |
-0.5 |
.....Employment Services |
-5,900 |
-7.7 |
.....Services to Buildings and Dwellings |
2,900 |
5.7 |
...Educational Services |
0 |
0.0 |
...Health Care and Social Assistance |
-5,700 |
-1.6 |
....Ambulatory Health Care Services |
9,400 |
5.7 |
....Hospitals |
-1,100 |
-1.2 |
..Leisure and Hospitality |
-36,300 |
-10.9 |
...Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation |
-12,500 |
-33.8 |
...Accommodation and Food Services |
-23,800 |
-8.1 |
..Other Services |
-13,900 |
-11.8 |
Government |
-6,200 |
-1.5 |
Source: Greater Houston Partnership calculations based on Texas Workforce Commission data |
Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research
Patrick Jankowski, CERP
Senior Vice President, Research
713-844-3616
pjankowski@houston.org
Metro Houston lost 141,300 jobs in 2020
Review the latest data on inflation in the Houston area.
Review the latest data on this key economic indicator.
View data on the cost of living in Houston compared with other major U.S. metros.