How many jobs were lost in Houston, TX area last month?
Updated May. 22, 2026Refreshed annually
It lost 3,500 jobs in April 2026. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ state and local employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area has averaged about 7,700 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-3.5K
month to month change in number of jobs (April 2026)
In the previous employment report on the Houston, TX area, there was a net gain of zero in January 2026.
The Houston, TX area job growth of 13,500 in March 2026 was larger than the 300 jobs gained in February 2026.
The Houston, TX area job loss of 3,500 in April 2026 swung from a growth of 11,100 jobs in March 2026.
During the latest five-year period (May 2021 to April 2026), the Houston, TX area gained jobs in 49 out of 60 months. April 2026 had the fourth-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2022 (+45,900) while job growth was weakest in July 2024 (-24,600).
The Houston, TX area lost 3,500 jobs in April 2026.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment in the Houston, TX area
How does the Houston, TX area job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2026, the Houston, TX area has gained an average of 2,800 jobs every month. That's higher than the 2025 average monthly increase of 1,200, and the lowest since 2025. The 2026 average ranks as seventh-worst in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 109,600 every month in 2009 to a gain of 116,900 every month in 2014.
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In 2025, the Houston, TX area gained an average of 1,200 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs in the Houston, TX area, seasonally adjusted
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
