Texas led the nation in job gains for 2025, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas added 132,500 nonfarm jobs between December 2024 and December 2025, more than any other state. The state’s annual job growth rate outpaced the national average by half a percentage point.
The labor market report also indicated several record-setting figures for Texas. The state’s labor force reached an all-time high of 15,964,000 people. The number of Texans working, including those self-employed, hit a record 15,283,600. Total nonfarm jobs in Texas also reached a new peak at 14,341,000 after gaining 19,700 positions in December alone.
Texas’ unemployment rate stood at 4.3%, which is slightly lower than the national unemployment rate of 4.4%.
Governor Abbott attributed this growth to Texas’ business environment and workforce: “Texas is America’s jobs leader because Texas is where free enterprise flourishes and where hard work is rewarded,” he said. “That is why Texas tops all states for business relocations and expansions. Job-creating businesses — large and small — invest with certainty in Texas and in our young, skilled, and growing workforce. With more Texans working than ever before, we begin a new year of boundless opportunity in Texas.”
Recently, Governor Abbott also highlighted the strength of the state’s economy while reflecting on its performance over the past year.
