Texas led the United States in job gains for 2025, according to new labor market data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Governor Greg Abbott highlighted these results, noting that Texas gained more nonfarm jobs than any other state last year and achieved new records for total nonfarm jobs, the number of employed Texans, and the size of its labor force.
“Texas is America’s jobs leader because Texas is where free enterprise flourishes and where hard work is rewarded,” said Governor Abbott. “That is why Texas tops all states for business relocations and expansions. Job-creating businesses — large and small — invest with certainty in Texas and in our young, skilled, and growing workforce. With more Texans working than ever before, we begin a new year of boundless opportunity in Texas.”
Data from December 2025 show that Texas added 132,500 jobs over the year from December 2024 to December 2025, surpassing all other states. The state’s annual job growth rate was half a percentage point higher than the national average.
The labor force reached an all-time high at nearly 16 million people (15,964,000), while the number of working Texans—including those self-employed—also hit a record at over 15 million (15,283,600). Total nonfarm jobs rose to another peak at more than 14 million (14,341,000) after adding nearly 20,000 positions during December alone.
The unemployment rate in Texas stood at 4.3% for December 2025—slightly below the national rate of 4.4%.
Governor Abbott recently reflected on these achievements as part of a broader review of Texas’ economic performance during the past year.
