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EMPLOYMENT

Metro Houston created 6,500 jobs in June, according to data released today by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). That brings the year-to-date total to 48,600 new jobs. Since the end of the pandemic, the region has recouped 213,500 jobs, or roughly 60 percent of the pandemic losses. Employment remains 147,900 jobs below February ’20 levels.

Today’s report shows that the five sectors most impacted by social distancing in the pandemic—arts, entertainment and recreation, health care, other (i.e., personal) services, retail, and restaurants and bars—have nearly recovered. Since reopening, the group has recouped 200,700 jobs, or 94.0 percent of their combined losses. 

Four categories still struggle—construction, energy, manufacturing, and wholesale trade. They continue to shed jobs even as the economy reopened. As a group, they account for 77,500 job cuts, or 52.4 percent of the remaining job losses.

If job growth follows historic patterns, Houston will see a loss of jobs in July, primarily educators unemployed during summer months. Job growth typically resumes in August and gains momentum in the fall. Year-end job growth may receive an additional impetus as the last of the pandemic-related unemployment benefits are set to expire in September. The region typically adds 30,000 to 50,000 jobs in Q3/Q4. The region could end with a net gain of 75,000 to 100,000 jobs for the year.  

Patrick Jankowski, CERP
Senior Vice President, Research
713-844-3616
pjankowski@houston.org