Texas recorded the largest 12-month job gain in the United States, according to September employment data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Workforce Commission. The state set new records for its labor force size, number of employed residents, and total nonfarm jobs.
Governor Greg Abbott commented on the report: “Texas is where free enterprise flourishes and jobs grow. That is why Texas leads all states with the largest 12-month jobs gain in the nation. From innovative startups to Fortune 500 corporations, job-creating businesses invest with confidence in Texas. With our strong and growing workforce, we will continue to expand career and technical training programs for better jobs and bigger paycheck opportunities for more Texans.”
The data shows that Texas’ labor force reached an all-time high of 15,879,000 people. The number of Texans working, including those self-employed, also hit a record at 15,222,900. Nonfarm jobs increased to a new peak of 14,343,800 after adding 4,600 positions over the month. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Texas gained 168,000 jobs—leading all states and surpassing the national annual job growth rate by 0.4 percentage points. The unemployment rate in Texas remained steady at 4.1%, which is lower than the national rate of 4.4%.
Recently, Governor Abbott announced more than $14 million in Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) training grants to higher education institutions and independent school districts across Texas to support career and technical education programs. Additionally, $1 million in dual credit grants was provided to train students for high-demand jobs following graduation.
