How many jobs were lost in Texas last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed annually
Texas gained 40,100 jobs in January 2026, ranking it second among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state 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 state has averaged about 32,900 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+40.1K
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
2nd
rank among states in monthly job growth (January 2026)
January 2026's gain of 40,100 jobs was the 3rd consecutive month of positive job growth in Texas. Monthly job growth was up from the 32,900 new jobs in December 2025.
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Texas gained jobs in 54 out of 60 months. October 2021 had the 19th-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+143,700) while job growth was weakest in July 2024 (-38,700).
There were 40,100 more jobs in January 2026 in Texas than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, February 2021–January 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Texas sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in January 2026?
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Texas gained jobs in 54 out of 60 months. October 2021 had the 19th-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+143,700) while job growth was weakest in July 2024 (-38,700).
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in January 2026 were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, accommodation and food services, and construction. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services added 12,200 jobs, more than the entire economy. Accommodation and food services gained 11,800 jobs, while construction added 11,800. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The health care and social assistance sector gained 6,600 jobs during January 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Texas (January 2026)
How does Texas's job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2025, the state has gained an average of 11,000 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 15,700, and the smallest since 2024. The 2025 average ranks as the 16th-highest in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 30,800 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 67,400 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Texas gained an average of 11,000 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among 26 metro areas at least partially in Texas during January 2026 ranged from a loss of 100 jobs in the Sherman, TX area to a gain of 11,600 jobs in the Dallas, TX area metro area.
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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.
