Texas Leads Nation in Job Growth for 2025

This may not make some people very happy, but if you live in Texas, this is no real surprise. Texas has once again led the nation in job growth over the past 12 months, adding more nonfarm jobs than any other state and setting multiple employment records, according to December labor market estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

State data shows Texas gained 132,500 jobs from December 2024 to December 2025, outpacing the national annual job growth rate by half a percentage point. The gains capped a year of steady economic expansion across multiple industries.

New Employment Records Set

December data also confirmed several historic milestones for the Texas workforce:

• Largest labor force ever recorded in Texas at 15,964,000
• Highest number of Texans working, including self-employed, at 15,283,600
• Record total nonfarm employment of 14,341,000, following the addition of 19,700 jobs in December alone
• Unemployment rate of 4.3%, remaining below the national rate of 4.4%

Officials noted that strong job growth reflects continued business investment, population growth, and workforce participation across Texas.

Texas Leaders Cite Business-Friendly Climate

Governor Greg Abbott pointed to Texas’ economic climate as a driving factor behind the state’s performance, noting continued business relocations and expansions throughout the year.

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Texas’ job growth builds on broader economic momentum highlighted by state leaders in a recent review of the state’s 2025 performance, underscoring a diverse and resilient economy entering the new year.

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