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Metro Houston added 13,800 jobs in September, according to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), marking the region’s strongest monthly gain since February. September’s data was delayed by the federal government shutdown, which disrupted TWC’s coordination with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. September typically brings a seasonal hiring bump as the academic year begins and the region’s schools, community colleges, and universities staff up. That pattern held this year as public education added an unusually large 24,400 jobs, and private education added an additional 1,900. Outside of education, most sectors shed positions over the month, led by a typical pullback in leisure and hospitality (especially restaurants and bars) as the summer vacation season wound down.

Public education’s 24,400 job gain in September more than reversed July’s larger than average seasonal decline of 23,400 positions when the prior academic year concluded. Since ‘21, the region’s seasonal swings in education staffing have intensified, with steeper summer reductions followed by larger hiring surges as the new school year gets underway.

Over the past 12 months, Houston has added 30,700 jobs, which represents a 0.9 percent job growth rate. That pace outperformed the nation’s 0.8 percent growth rate over the same period. Annually, health care led the expansion, accounting for 13,200 jobs, or 43.0 percent of the total, with public services and restaurants and bars also contributing meaningful gains.

Total non-farm payroll employment for the region now stands at 3,464,800 jobs.

Release dates for the October and November data have not been formally announced by TWC but are expected in early January, with December data expected to be published later that month.

Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research Division.

Colin Baker
Manager of Economic Research
Greater Houston Partnership
[email protected]

Clara Richardson
Research Analyst
Greater Houston Partnership
[email protected]