Houston employers ramped up hiring in April, adding 14,400 jobs to the region’s economy, nearly doubling the long-term average of 7,400 for this time of year, according to the latest data from Workforce Solutions – Gulf Coast. The increase marks a robust start to the spring hiring season, with eight of the eleven major industry sectors reporting job gains.
Professional and Business Services Sector Leads Hiring Surge
Leading the way in April was the Professional and Business Services sector, which added 5,600 jobs. Most of the growth occurred within the Administrative and Support Services subsector, which gained 3,600 jobs. This area includes a range of essential services such as office administration, staffing agencies, and business support operations.
Despite the strong showing in April, experts caution that the sector remains volatile. “The sector is up only 700 jobs year-over-year and has posted job losses in six of the last twelve months, including the four months leading up to April,” said Mohammad Ahmadizadeh, principal data analyst at Workforce Solutions. He added that recent gains could signal the beginning of a more stable hiring period.
Leisure and Hospitality, Education, and Health Services Also Add Jobs
The Leisure and Hospitality sector followed closely, adding 3,900 jobs last month, driven by continued demand in food services and accommodations. The Educational and Health Services sector also grew, contributing 1,800 new positions—primarily in Health Care and Social Assistance, underscoring the region’s ongoing need for healthcare workers.
Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.9%
The Houston-area unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a percentage point to 3.9% in April, down from 4.2% in March. These figures are not seasonally adjusted. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has yet to release seasonally adjusted data for the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metropolitan area. Meanwhile, Texas’ statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.1% in March.
Looking Ahead
The Texas Workforce Commission is set to release May employment figures on June 20, 2025. For in-depth labor market data, including the complete April report, visit www.wrksolutions.com/localstats.
About Workforce Solutions – Gulf Coast
Workforce Solutions – Gulf Coast is committed to strengthening the economic and human potential of the 13-county Houston-Galveston region. As part of the state’s public workforce system, it works closely with the Texas Workforce Commission and the statewide Workforce Solutions network to match job seekers and employers through Texas’ largest job-matching database, www.WorkInTexas.com. The organization’s mission is to make the region a better place to live, work, and do business through an employer-driven, people-focused approach.
