Houston-area employers added 9,700 jobs in November, marking slower growth compared to the same period last year, when over-the-month gains were nearly double. This data shows that while job growth moderated, the region’s labor market remains fundamentally strong.
“Despite slower momentum, Houston’s labor market remains structurally healthy,” said Mohammad Ahmadizadeh, principal data analyst at Workforce Solutions – Gulf Coast. However, Ahmadizadeh noted that November represented a shift from October’s broader-based growth, as most major industries posted month-to-month losses.
The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector led job gains in November, adding more than 12,400 jobs, a 1.8 percent increase that exceeded the long-term average for the month. Seasonal hiring related to the holiday period played a significant role, with Retail Trade accounting for over 6,600 of those jobs.
Government employment followed, adding 2,500 jobs, a 0.5 percent increase that aligned with historical averages. Construction also posted notable gains, adding 1,200 jobs, or 0.5 percent. These increases stand in contrast to historical trends, as November typically sees an average loss of 1,300 construction jobs.
Not all sectors experienced growth. Professional and Business Services recorded the largest decline, losing 3,000 jobs, the steepest drop for the sector since records began in 1990. Losses were primarily concentrated in Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services. Leisure and Hospitality also declined, shedding 1,600 jobs, or 0.4 percent, a reversal from its historical average gain of approximately 200 jobs in November.
The Houston-area not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent, down from an unofficial estimate of 4.7 percent in October. Official unemployment estimates were not released due to a lapse in federal appropriations that affected data collection by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Seasonally adjusted unemployment data for October were also unavailable for the same reason.
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