Texas sets records for labor force size and employment, November data shows

AUSTIN – Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texas has set new records for both the number of Texans working and the overall size of the state’s labor force.

Abbott said Texas continues to add jobs at a faster annual rate than the nation overall, citing November employment data.

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“Texas offers boundless opportunities for hardworking Texans and innovative entrepreneurs to thrive,” Abbott said. “We see proof of that promise as more Texans are working than ever in the history of our great state. Thanks to the strength of our economy and our skilled workforce, we continue to attract new business investments and spur job growth across dynamic and diverse industries. Texas is where the future is being built.”

November labor market data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the following:

• Texas reached a new high with the largest labor force ever in the state’s history at 15,938,500.
• Texas reached a new high for Texans working, including self-employed, at 15,264,700.
• Texas nonfarm jobs totaled 14,321,000 after adding 7,300 positions over the month.
• Texas gained 146,300 jobs from November 2024 to November 2025, more than any other state and outpacing the national annual job growth rate by 0.4 percentage points.
• The Texas unemployment rate registered at 4.2%, below the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.6%.