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Texas Economy

Unemployment was 4.4% in Sep 2026, the 38th lowest of 51 states. Personal income averages $69,823 per person.

Unemployment rate
4.4%
+0.1 pts in a year
Labor force
15,948,397
0.0% in a year
Income per person
$69,823
BEA, 2024
Average annual pay
$77,964
QCEW, 2025

Unemployment rate in Texas

Monthly, seasonally adjusted, compared with the U.S.

TexasUnited States
Show as a table
PeriodTexas
Sep 20264.4%
Dec 20254.3%
Dec 20244.1%
Dec 20234.0%
Dec 20224.1%
Dec 20214.5%
Dec 20206.9%
Dec 20193.5%
Dec 20183.8%
Dec 20174.1%
Dec 20164.8%
Dec 20154.5%
Dec 20144.6%
Dec 20135.8%
Dec 20126.5%
Beta

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics ยท Last updated 09/01/2026

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Counties in Texas

Unemployment (Sep 2026, not seasonally adjusted), income per person (BEA) and average pay (QCEW). Largest labor force first.

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#CountyUnemployment1 yearLabor forceIncome per personAverage pay
1Harris County4.6%-0.3 pts2,549,337$79,991$91,491
2Dallas County4.2%-0.2 pts1,453,109$84,975$92,543
3Tarrant County4.1%-0.1 pts1,221,984$69,936$74,950
4Bexar County4.3%0.0 pts1,050,577$61,160$67,846
5Travis County3.6%0.0 pts879,546$98,944$100,928
6Collin County4.1%0.0 pts711,634$89,488$91,910
7Denton County3.9%-0.1 pts614,643$80,108$67,956
8Fort Bend County4.5%-0.1 pts486,124$75,721$63,472
9Williamson County3.7%-0.1 pts436,738$76,156$82,562
10El Paso County4.3%-0.5 pts422,861$49,306$51,515
11Hidalgo County5.6%-0.8 pts407,230$35,290$43,955
12Montgomery County4.3%-0.1 pts373,133$80,512$72,956
13Brazoria County4.8%-0.2 pts203,060$60,700$70,467
14Cameron County5.9%-1.6 pts188,588$39,990$47,042
15Galveston County4.6%-0.1 pts183,590$67,777$63,901
16Nueces County4.4%-0.1 pts171,423$58,091$62,366
17Hays County3.7%0.0 pts170,553$67,490$56,692
18Lubbock County3.7%+0.1 pts170,197$55,804$56,583
19Bell County4.9%-0.1 pts168,919$55,214$64,742
20Brazos County3.5%-0.2 pts138,227$52,970$56,836
21McLennan County4.0%-0.2 pts132,717$56,851$63,483
22Ellis County4.1%0.0 pts127,119$58,766$59,284
23Smith County4.0%-0.1 pts122,541$69,908$59,676
24Webb County4.1%-0.6 pts122,249$44,200$47,646
25Jefferson County5.7%-0.3 pts116,028$53,111$73,587
All 254 counties, A to Z

Jobs and pay by industry in Texas

Private employers, annual average 2025 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

IndustryJobs1-year changeAverage pay
Health care and social assistance1,717,199+2.7%$63,513
Retail trade1,403,856+0.2%$44,170
Accommodation and food services1,357,378+0.8%$27,751
Professional and technical services1,061,831+1.5%$127,878
Manufacturing988,649+1.5%$97,490
Construction901,963+5.2%$86,802
Administrative and support services890,214-0.4%$63,957
Finance and insurance661,370+1.7%$125,538
Wholesale trade650,518-0.8%$112,965
Transportation and warehousing640,606+1.5%$77,667
Other services381,413+1.2%$55,834
Real estate and rental261,693+2.0%$85,776
Educational services224,041+2.1%$61,216
Information223,595-0.8%$138,369
Mining, oil and gas209,829-3.3%$165,394
Arts, entertainment and recreation172,321+3.4%$47,752
Management of companies169,973-7.0%$172,898
Utilities69,556+6.2%$146,893
Agriculture, forestry and fishing61,057+1.6%$51,817

Government employs 2,045,903 people (14.5% of all jobs): 222,523 federal, 412,027 state and 1,411,353 local.

Output and businesses in Texas

Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau

GDP
$2.8T
2024, current dollars
Real GDP growth
+4.0%
Adjusted for inflation
Employer businesses
670,878
12,012,629 employees
  • Retail trade84,36912.6%
  • Professional and technical services83,84212.5%
  • Health care and social assistance80,57612.0%
  • Accommodation and food services66,84410.0%
  • Other services59,2188.8%
  • Construction56,2878.4%
  • Finance and insurance42,2056.3%
  • Real estate and rental38,8725.8%
  • Wholesale trade33,3165.0%
  • Administrative and support services32,9364.9%

Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts; Census County Business Patterns 2023

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Frequently asked questions

What is the unemployment rate in Texas?
Texas's unemployment rate was 4.4% in Sep 2026, seasonally adjusted, compared with 4.2% for the U.S.
Which county in Texas has the highest unemployment?
Starr County has the highest rate at 8.3%, and Loving County has the lowest at 0.3% (not seasonally adjusted).
What is the largest industry in Texas?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private employer with 1,717,199 jobs, followed by retail trade (1,403,856) and accommodation and food services (1,357,378).
What is the average salary in Texas?
The average annual pay for jobs covered by unemployment insurance in Texas was $77,964 in 2025, or $1,499 a week.
How big is Texas's economy?
Texas's GDP was $2.8T in 2024, about $88,517 per resident.