September 20, 2021

Texas adds 39,300 jobs in August 2021

AUSTIN — Texas’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued to drop in August to 5.9%, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from July 2021, and the state added 39,300 nonagricultural jobs, according to data released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Texas has added a total of 681,000 jobs since August 2020, making gains in 15 of the last 16 months. Most of the jobs added in August were in the Professional and Business Services industry.

“The continued decrease in the unemployment rate and the positive job growth is good news for Texas,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “The demand for middle-skills jobs — those requiring less than a bachelor’s degree, but more than a high school diploma — continues to grow, and TWC is committed to ensuring the state’s workforce has the tools needed to succeed in these high-demand jobs.”

TWC offers employers assistance through a number of programs and customized training to help them attract and retain skilled employees, TWC officials said.

“Texas’s large skilled workforce is one of the most significant factors driving business decision-makers to relocate to and expand in the state,” said Robert Allen, President and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corporation. “Our local partners in places like Abilene, Amarillo and Round Rock are working with the TWC to ensure we build and maintain a workforce pipeline of Texans with the diverse skills that businesses are seeking — now and in the future.”

In August, the Professional and Business Services industry gained 29,600 jobs over the month. Education and Health Services employment added 17,800 positions. Trade, Transportation and Utilities added 7,100 jobs.

The data shows that the Amarillo Metropolitan Statistical area (MSA) recorded the lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs at 3.6%, followed by the Austin-Round Rock MSA at 3.8% and Abilene, Bryan-College Station and Sherman-Denison MSAs at 4.2% each.

To access this and more employment data, visit TexasLMI.com.