Monthly Update: Houston Metro Employment
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Metro Houston created 20,300 jobs in November, according to data released today by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). That aligns with historic trends, November being one of the strongest months for job growth each year as many consumer-oriented firms boost hiring for the holiday season.
Five sectors led November’s employment gains. Retail created 7,000 jobs as merchants hired additional clerks and cashiers for the shopping season. Transportation and warehousing employed an additional 3,600 stockers and drivers to handle the surge in holiday shipments. Health care added 3,000 workers to treat the region’s growing population. School districts continue to staff up, onboarding another 2,000 teachers, aids, and administrators. And administrative services, primarily contract/temp workers, employed another 1,600 Houstonians at various sites in the region.
Only two sectors saw significant job losses but for reasons that are unclear. Arts, entertainment, and recreation cut 1,000 jobs, and other services shed 500.
Through the first 11 months of the year, metro Houston has created 54,400 jobs, only 3,200 shy of the Partnership’s forecast of 57,600 for the year. In boom times, the region typically adds 10,000 to 15,000 jobs in December. In lean times, job growth is flat to negative. Eliminate the booms and the busts and growth averages around 6,000 for the month. That describes Houston today, neither boom nor bust, simply steady, sustainable growth. As a result, Houston will likely finish ’24 a few thousand jobs above the Partnership’s forecast for the year. That will also elevate payroll employment, currently at 3,496,500, to just over 3.5 million, which would be a record for the region.
Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research
Patrick Jankowski, CERP
Chief Economist
Senior Vice President, Research
[email protected]
