Local Employment Statistics

Welcome to the Workforce Solutions Local Stats page, your best source for the latest developments in Houston's regional labor market.  

The reports below provide a local analysis of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) and Local Area Unemployment Statististics (LAUS) as produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and distributed by the Texas Workforce Commission. The Gulf Coast Workforce Board 13-county service area includes Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller and Wharton counties. Each monthly report reflects the prior month's data.

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Monthly Jobs Reports 

February 2024 Highlights:Employers in the Houston area added 24,600 jobs (NSA) in February. Adjusting for seasonal trends, the region added 6,900 jobs. The not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate remained steady at 4.6 percent, up over the month and unchanged over the year.

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COVID-19 Labor Market Information

Childcare Capacity

In this presentation to the Gulf Coast Workforce Board on August 2nd, 2022, Parker Harvey shares data and observations around childcare provider capacity in the Gulf Coast Region.

Houston-Galveston Regional Report

The linked report includes unemployment claims and other labor market data for the region and some local geographies as available.  This report reflects the most recently available data. Updated 12/17/2021. 

Business Formation During the Pandemic

In this presentation to the Gulf Coast Workforce Board on April 6, 2021, Principal Economist Parker Harvey shares QCEW data showing business formation and expansion has continued throughout the pandemic despite record job losses.x

Impacts of COVID-19 on the Labor Market

This presentation contains analysis and comparison of labor market indicators leading into and since the start of the pandemic.  Presented on October 15, 2020

Unemployment Insurance Claims: Education, Occupation, Industry, and Age

This presentation contains observations on the unemployment claims data based on claimant education, occupation, industry, and age. Presented to the Gulf Coast Workforce Board on August 4, 2020.