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 

December 2022 Highlights: Employers in the Houston area added a net gain of 16,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate dropped one-tenth to 3.9%. 

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

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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.

Unemployment Insurance Claims Dashboard - Gulf Coast Region

The linked dashboard contains detailed data and mapping regarding unemployment insurance claims in the Gulf Coast region. Under the summary tab, users will find high-level data such as the raw number of unemployment insurance claims and the gender breakdown of those claims by county and zip code for the latest month of available data. Under the remaining tabs, users will find detailed data such as raw number of unemployment insurance claims along with race, gender, and educational attainment information associated with those claims. This data and mapping is for the latest week available and includes the following geographical breakdowns: counties, zip codes, school districts, Houston city council districts, county commissioner precincts, state house/senate districts, and U.S. congressional districts.  The data displayed is the best available but is initial and subject to revision in the weeks and months to come.

Impact of COVID-19 on Labor Market (as of June 25)

     Presentation     PDF