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News Release Information

18-728-DAL
Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (972) 850-4800

Houston Area Employment — April 2018

Total nonfarm employment in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area stood at 3,097,500 in April 2018, up 84,500 or 2.8 percent, from one year earlier, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. During the same period, the national job count increased 1.6 percent. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Stanley W. Suchman noted that April marked the sixth consecutive month that Houston’s rate of job growth has exceeded the U.S. average. Prior to this period, annual local job growth rates had been below the national average for more than two years. (See chart 1 and table 1; the Technical Note at the end of this release contains metropolitan area definitions. All data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year analysis is used throughout.)

Industry employment

In the Houston metropolitan area, professional and business services added the largest number of jobs from April 2017 to April 2018, up 29,800. Job gains in the sector came primarily from the employment services industry which added 16,500 jobs, a 20.7-percent rate of job growth over the year. Houston’s professional and business services employment rose 6.3 percent since April 2017, more than double the national increase of 2.6 percent. (See table 1 and chart 2.)

Trade, transportation, and utilities, Houston’s largest employer, added 14,300 jobs from April 2017 to April 2018. Employment rose in all three sub-sectors: wholesale trade (+5,300); retail trade (+6,500); and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+2,500). Over the year, local employment in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector increased 2.3 percent, more than twice the 1.1-percent nationwide increase.

Construction added 12,200 jobs locally from April a year ago. This was the sixth consecutive month of annual job gains for the local sector following more than a year of annual declines. Job gains occurred in each of the three reporting industries, with the largest gain in construction of buildings, up 10,000 or 17.6 percent. Area employment in the construction supersector rose 5.7 percent compared to the 3.8-percent gain for the nation.

Manufacturing in Houston added 10,100 jobs from April 2017 to April 2018, also marking the sixth consecutive month of annual job growth. The local durable goods manufacturing industry produced nearly all of the sector’s job growth over the year (+9,900). Area employment in manufacturing rose 4.6 percent from April a year ago, compared to 2.0 percent nationally.

Houston’s leisure and hospitality supersector added 7,800 jobs from April 2017. The 2.5-percent local rate of job growth compared to the 1.7-percent increase for the nation. Local job gains were concentrated in the sector’s largest industry, food services and drinking places, which added 5,700 jobs during the period.

Financial activities added 4,300 jobs from April 2017 in the Houston area. Local employment in the sector rose 2.7 percent compared to the 1.5-percent increase nationwide.

Houston’s education and health services employment rose 3,500 from April a year ago. This gain represented a 0.9-percent increase locally, below the national advance of 1.8 percent.

Three other local sectors had annual job gains of at least 1,100: government (+1,700), mining and logging (+1,200), and other services (+1,100). Only one Houston supersector, information, lost jobs from April 2017 to April 2018 (-1,500).

Employment in the 12 largest metropolitan areas

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land was 1 of the nation’s 12 largest metropolitan statistical areas in April 2018. All 12 areas had over-the-year job growth during the period, with the rates of job growth in 4 areas exceeding the national increase of 1.6 percent. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington had the fastest rate of job growth, up 3.4 percent, followed by Houston and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, each at 2.8 percent. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had the slowest rate of job growth, 0.7 percent. (See chart 3 and table 2.)

Dallas added the largest number of jobs over the year, 119,900, followed by New York-Newark-Jersey City, up 113,500. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach had the smallest employment gain over the year, adding 25,500 jobs. Annual gains in the remaining nine metropolitan areas ranged from 94,100 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim to 34,700 in Chicago.

Over the year, professional and business services added the most jobs in five areas: Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward. Education and health services gained the most jobs in four areas: New York, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Phoenix, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria. Dallas was the only metropolitan area to record annual gains in all of its supersectors.

Metropolitan area employment data for May 2018 are scheduled to be released on Friday, June 15, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).


Technical Note

This release presents nonfarm payroll employment estimates from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program. The CES survey is a Federal-State cooperative endeavor between State employment security agencies and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Definitions. Employment data refer to persons on establishment payrolls who receive pay for any part of the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. Persons are counted at their place of work rather than at their place of residence; those appearing on more than one payroll are counted on each payroll. Industries are classified on the basis of their principal activity in accordance with the 2012 version of the North American Industry Classification System.

Method of estimation. CES State and Area employment data are produced using several estimation procedures. Where possible these data are produced using a "weighted link relative" estimation technique in which a ratio of current-month weighted employment to that of the previous-month weighted employment is computed from a sample of establishments reporting for both months. The estimates of employment for the current month are then obtained by multiplying these ratios by the previous month's employment estimates. The weighted link relative technique is utilized for data series where the sample size meets certain statistical criteria.

For some employment series, the sample of establishments is very small or highly variable. In these cases, a model-based approach is used in estimation. These models use the direct sample estimates (described above), combined with forecasts of historical (benchmarked) data to decrease volatility in estimation. Two different models (Fay-Herriot Model and Small Domain Model) are used depending on the industry level being estimated. For more detailed information about each model, refer to the BLS Handbook of Methods.

Annual revisions. Employment estimates are adjusted annually to a complete count of jobs, called benchmarks, derived principally from tax reports that are submitted by employers who are covered under state unemployment insurance (UI) laws. The benchmark information is used to adjust the monthly estimates between the new benchmark and the preceding one and also to establish the level of employment for the new benchmark month. Thus, the benchmarking process establishes the level of employment, and the sample is used to measure the month-to-month changes in the level for the subsequent months.

Reliability of the estimates. The estimates presented in this release are based on sample surveys, administrative data, and modeling and, thus, are subject to sampling and other types of errors. Sampling error is a measure of sampling variability–that is, variation that occurs by chance because a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed. Survey data also are subject to nonsampling errors, such as those which can be introduced into the data collection and processing operations. Estimates not directly derived from sample surveys are subject to additional errors resulting from the specific estimation processes used. The sums of individual items may not always equal the totals shown in the same tables because of rounding.

Employment estimates. Measures of sampling error for the total private employment series are available for metropolitan areas and metropolitan divisions at www.bls.gov/sae/additional-resources/reliability-of-state-and-area-estimates.htm. Measures of sampling error for more detailed series at the area and division level are available upon request. Measures of nonsampling error are not available for the areas contained in this release. Information on recent benchmark revisions is available online at www.bls.gov/sae/benchmark2017.pdf

Area definitions. The substate area data published in this release reflect the delineations issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, dated July 15, 2015. A detailed list of the geographic definitions is available at www.bls.gov/lau/lausmsa.htm.

The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller Counties in Texas.

Additional information

More complete information on the technical procedures used to develop these estimates and additional data appear in Employment and Earnings, which is available online at www.bls.gov/opub/ee/home.htm. Industry employment data for states and metropolitan areas from the Current Employment Statistics program are also available in the above mentioned news releases and from the Internet at www.bls.gov/sae/.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry supersector, United States and Houston metropolitan area, not seasonally adjusted (numbers in thousands)
Area and IndustryApr.
2017
Feb.
2018
Mar.
2018
Apr.
2018(p)
Apr. 2017 to
Apr. 2018(p)
Net changePercent change

United States

Total nonfarm

146,101146,674147,369148,3672,2661.6

Mining and logging

660702711719598.9

Construction

6,8166,7996,8867,0782623.8

Manufacturing

12,34912,53612,57612,5992502.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities

27,19227,33027,42027,4842921.1

Information

2,7932,7532,7552,768-25-0.9

Financial activities

8,3828,4878,5028,5071251.5

Professional and business services

20,30020,46620,57120,8195192.6

Education and health services

23,26023,59823,62923,6844241.8

Leisure and hospitality

15,88815,59115,82516,1582701.7

Other services

5,7485,7805,8005,847991.7

Government

22,71322,63222,69422,704-90.0

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area

Total nonfarm

3,013.03,061.53,074.93,097.584.52.8

Mining and logging

77.078.577.878.21.21.6

Construction

215.7226.2227.2227.912.25.7

Manufacturing

217.9222.7222.7228.010.14.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities

610.6623.6623.8624.914.32.3

Information

32.531.731.531.0-1.5-4.6

Financial activities

157.8161.3161.7162.14.32.7

Professional and business services

476.4496.0503.4506.229.86.3

Education and health services

384.8385.0385.2388.33.50.9

Leisure and hospitality

316.4314.0317.3324.27.82.5

Other services

111.1108.2109.3112.21.11.0

Government

412.8414.3415.0414.51.70.4

(p) preliminary


Table 2. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry supersector, 12 largest metropolitan areas, not seasonally adjusted (numbers in thousands)
Area and IndustryApr.
2017
Feb.
2018
Mar.
2018
Apr.
2018(p)
Apr. 2017 to
Apr. 2018(p)
Net changePercent change

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA

Total nonfarm

2,711.42,736.02,744.62,752.741.31.5

Mining and logging

1.61.61.61.60.00.0

Construction

119.0124.3124.1125.96.95.8

Manufacturing

166.5168.7168.7168.11.61.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities

597.4609.6613.3612.715.32.6

Information

99.092.690.990.6-8.4-8.5

Financial activities

169.2168.8169.1169.90.70.4

Professional and business services

496.9494.3496.0494.4-2.5-0.5

Education and health services

339.8350.2353.6353.013.23.9

Leisure and hospitality

289.7289.7292.4299.09.33.2

Other services

99.499.498.2100.20.80.8

Government

332.9336.8336.7337.34.41.3

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH

Total nonfarm

2,728.22,708.02,719.12,765.136.91.4

Mining, logging, and construction

108.2107.5107.7113.35.14.7

Manufacturing

185.3187.0187.9188.43.11.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities

419.5413.9414.6419.70.20.0

Information

79.379.779.779.2-0.1-0.1

Financial activities

183.1182.2181.3183.0-0.1-0.1

Professional and business services

479.5481.1485.0497.718.23.8

Education and health services

586.7587.7588.8594.37.61.3

Leisure and hospitality

267.7253.9258.4270.42.71.0

Other services

101.8101.3100.8103.51.71.7

Government

317.1313.7314.9315.6-1.5-0.5

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

Total nonfarm

4,664.24,632.04,656.24,698.934.70.7

Mining and logging

1.61.51.51.60.00.0

Construction

168.4157.4165.4174.15.73.4

Manufacturing

414.1418.2420.2419.65.51.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities

938.2938.5941.7945.37.10.8

Information

79.476.075.875.6-3.8-4.8

Financial activities

301.4306.7306.5305.54.11.4

Professional and business services

816.1802.4799.2814.5-1.6-0.2

Education and health services

727.9730.8733.7736.18.21.1

Leisure and hospitality

475.1452.3460.7475.90.80.2

Other services

195.0193.3192.9194.1-0.9-0.5

Government

547.0554.9558.6556.69.61.8

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

Total nonfarm

3,568.03,645.73,660.13,687.9119.93.4

Mining, logging, and construction

211.1215.6217.2223.912.86.1

Manufacturing

268.6276.3275.7276.78.13.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities

755.8769.7771.4774.418.62.5

Information

83.584.083.883.70.20.2

Financial activities

291.3296.8297.5296.85.51.9

Professional and business services

585.8600.6605.0611.725.94.4

Education and health services

441.3451.2452.1452.911.62.6

Leisure and hospitality

372.3381.5382.9393.020.75.6

Other services

121.0123.7126.6126.95.94.9

Government

437.3446.3447.9447.910.62.4

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

Total nonfarm

3,013.03,061.53,074.93,097.584.52.8

Mining and logging

77.078.577.878.21.21.6

Construction

215.7226.2227.2227.912.25.7

Manufacturing

217.9222.7222.7228.010.14.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities

610.6623.6623.8624.914.32.3

Information

32.531.731.531.0-1.5-4.6

Financial activities

157.8161.3161.7162.14.32.7

Professional and business services

476.4496.0503.4506.229.86.3

Education and health services

384.8385.0385.2388.33.50.9

Leisure and hospitality

316.4314.0317.3324.27.82.5

Other services

111.1108.2109.3112.21.11.0

Government

412.8414.3415.0414.51.70.4

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Total nonfarm

6,023.76,083.56,101.86,117.894.11.6

Mining and logging

2.92.92.92.90.00.0

Construction

236.6244.8242.8247.711.14.7

Manufacturing

508.4507.5508.8507.8-0.6-0.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities

1,090.91,093.81,088.01,087.0-3.9-0.4

Information

237.8240.5245.6244.26.42.7

Financial activities

338.3339.9338.9340.92.60.8

Professional and business services

899.4919.9923.8928.829.43.3

Education and health services

1,007.91,030.41,036.81,035.928.02.8

Leisure and hospitality

738.9748.8756.2762.723.83.2

Other services

205.3199.7200.3202.0-3.3-1.6

Government

757.3755.3757.7757.90.60.1

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

Total nonfarm

2,640.72,664.62,671.02,666.225.51.0

Mining and logging

0.70.80.80.80.114.3

Construction

128.2136.0138.5140.111.99.3

Manufacturing

88.992.894.396.67.78.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities

595.9600.5599.2595.8-0.10.0

Information

51.350.850.650.4-0.9-1.8

Financial activities

178.6178.8179.5179.40.80.4

Professional and business services

434.4443.5439.4437.63.20.7

Education and health services

393.7393.4395.2394.00.30.1

Leisure and hospitality

330.0329.9333.1332.22.20.7

Other services

123.8123.7124.6124.60.80.6

Government

315.2314.4315.8314.7-0.5-0.2

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA

Total nonfarm

9,613.99,624.69,667.99,727.4113.51.2

Mining, logging, and construction

391.4381.7385.9395.94.51.1

Manufacturing

363.2360.4362.5362.6-0.6-0.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities

1,716.31,735.31,737.61,741.325.01.5

Information

283.5283.1285.8284.61.10.4

Financial activities

768.5773.6774.0772.03.50.5

Professional and business services

1,528.11,530.91,537.21,545.016.91.1

Education and health services

1,937.11,973.01,980.31,989.352.22.7

Leisure and hospitality

894.4863.2874.9901.67.20.8

Other services

420.4420.2419.2421.41.00.2

Government

1,311.01,303.21,310.51,313.72.70.2

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Total nonfarm

2,908.62,896.22,917.32,948.039.41.4

Mining, logging, and construction

116.7108.8110.4114.6-2.1-1.8

Manufacturing

179.6180.4179.9180.10.50.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities

517.6521.3523.8525.98.31.6

Information

46.044.844.944.9-1.1-2.4

Financial activities

213.0214.2214.4214.91.90.9

Professional and business services

464.6458.4464.3475.010.42.2

Education and health services

645.3657.3658.6660.615.32.4

Leisure and hospitality

264.2250.4258.0267.43.21.2

Other services

120.4118.2119.3120.40.00.0

Government

341.2342.4343.7344.23.00.9

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ

Total nonfarm

2,036.32,081.52,090.82,092.756.42.8

Mining and logging

3.23.13.13.20.00.0

Construction

110.4118.1119.6121.411.010.0

Manufacturing

120.9127.8127.9128.47.56.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities

389.8398.5400.2396.97.11.8

Information

36.435.936.136.40.00.0

Financial activities

184.7190.0189.5189.44.72.5

Professional and business services

343.0348.7349.7349.76.72.0

Education and health services

306.4318.6319.1319.713.34.3

Leisure and hospitality

228.8228.7233.4235.06.22.7

Other services

66.065.065.565.7-0.3-0.5

Government

246.7247.1246.7246.90.20.1

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA

Total nonfarm

2,382.02,410.82,417.92,426.844.81.9

Mining and logging

0.40.50.50.50.125.0

Construction

114.4118.6119.1120.46.05.2

Manufacturing

137.1141.3142.1142.25.13.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities

379.5381.9381.1382.53.00.8

Information

102.8108.5108.6108.55.75.5

Financial activities

141.5142.5142.3144.12.61.8

Professional and business services

474.6485.2486.7487.813.22.8

Education and health services

349.5356.1358.3355.45.91.7

Leisure and hospitality

271.9267.7269.5274.42.50.9

Other services

87.285.084.084.7-2.5-2.9

Government

323.1323.5325.7326.33.21.0

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Total nonfarm

3,269.23,277.73,288.33,307.938.71.2

Mining, logging, and construction

159.2158.5160.4161.32.11.3

Manufacturing

54.754.654.754.70.00.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities

402.7402.3406.2408.35.61.4

Information

73.874.974.874.91.11.5

Financial activities

156.2157.9157.9159.43.22.0

Professional and business services

744.2751.5748.0751.57.31.0

Education and health services

439.5445.2445.5449.29.72.2

Leisure and hospitality

326.3321.4326.9334.88.52.6

Other services

206.6208.8208.4208.72.11.0

Government

706.0702.6705.5705.1-0.9-0.1

(p) preliminary

 

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, May 23, 2018