Total nonfarm employment for the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX, metropolitan area increased by 80,700 over the year in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the local rate of job gain, 2.4 percent, compared to the 1.8-percent national increase. (See chart 1 and table 1.) (All data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year analysis is used throughout.)

Industry employment

In Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX, education and health services had the only significant gain (+23,800) among the metropolitan area’s private-industry supersectors. (See chart 2.) Within the supersector, heath care and social assistance increased by 20,100 jobs. The 5.4-percent increase in the metropolitan area’s education and health services supersector compared to the 4.3-percent gain on a national level.

Twelve largest metropolitan areas

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX, was 1 of the nation’s 12 largest metropolitan statistical areas in April 2024. Eight of twelve areas gained total nonfarm payroll employment over the year. The largest job gain occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+155,200). Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (+38,800) and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (+39,500) had the smallest employment increases among the areas with significant changes. (See table 2 and chart 3.)

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX, and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, each had a 2.4-percent rate of job gain, followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ (+2.1 percent). Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, reported a job gain of 0.9 percent.

The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment release for May 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).

Technical Note

This release presents nonfarm payroll employment estimates from the CES program. The CES survey is a Federal-State cooperative endeavor between State employment security agencies and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More information about the CES data is available in the State Employment and Unemployment Summary and the Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary.

Definitions. Employment data refer to persons on establishment payrolls who receive pay for any part of the pay period which 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 2022 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 estimates are produced with a model that uses direct sample estimates (described above) combined with other regressors to compensate for smaller sample sizes.

Annual revisions. Employment estimates are adjusted annually to a complete count of jobs, called benchmarks, derived principally from tax reports which 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. Information on recent benchmark revisions is available in the CES State and Area benchmark article.

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 totals shown in the same tables due to rounding.

Employment estimates. Changes in metropolitan area nonfarm payroll employment are cited in the analysis of this release only if they have been determined to be statistically significant at the 90-percent confidence level. Reliability of state and area estimates for the total nonfarm employment series are available for metropolitan areas and metropolitan divisions.

Area definitions. The substate area data published in this news release reflect the delineations issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget on April 10, 2018. The 12 metropolitan areas discussed in this release are the metropolitan areas with the largest population according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Additional information

Employment data from the CES program are available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/sae/.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry supersector, United States and Houston metropolitan area, not seasonally adjusted (numbers in thousands)

Area and Industry	Apr. 2023	Feb. 2024	Mar. 2024	Apr. 2024(p)	Apr. 2023 to Apr. 2024(p)
					Net change	Percent change
United States(1)
Total nonfarm	155,201	156,551	157,213	158,016	2,815	1.8
Mining and logging	633	632	639	635	2	0.3
Construction	7,874	7,860	7,972	8,132	258	3.3
Manufacturing	12,896	12,907	12,903	12,913	17	0.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities	28,544	28,686	28,701	28,747	203	0.7
Information	3,035	2,997	3,004	2,993	-42	-1.4
Financial activities	9,137	9,167	9,169	9,186	49	0.5
Professional and business services	22,767	22,691	22,724	22,891	124	0.5
Education and health services	25,208	26,116	26,187	26,293	1,085	4.3
Leisure and hospitality	16,358	16,221	16,483	16,739	381	2.3
Other services	5,787	5,821	5,854	5,892	105	1.8
Government	22,962	23,453	23,577	23,595	633	2.8
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
Total nonfarm	3,356.7	3,417.6	3,418.3	3,437.4	80.7	2.4
Mining and logging	70.6	70.6	71.6	71.2	0.6	0.8
Construction	232.4	233.6	235.0	237.3	4.9	2.1
Manufacturing	232.3	237.4	236.2	236.7	4.4	1.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities	681.1	686.9	684.1	685.8	4.7	0.7
Information	33.2	32.6	32.2	32.3	-0.9	-2.7
Financial activities	185.7	186.6	186.3	187.5	1.8	1.0
Professional and business services	551.9	560.3	557.2	561.1	9.2	1.7
Education and health services	444.4	464.7	466.4	468.2	23.8	5.4
Leisure and hospitality	355.0	353.2	355.6	361.9	6.9	1.9
Other services	124.7	130.7	130.8	132.6	7.9	6.3
Government	445.4	461.0	462.9	462.8	17.4	3.9
(1) U.S. data are preliminary for two months after they are first published. (p) Preliminary

Table 2. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry supersector for the 12 largest metropolitan areas, not seasonally adjusted (numbers in thousands)

Area	Apr 2023	Feb 2024	Mar 2024	Apr 2024(p)	Apr 2023 to Apr 2024(p)
					Net change	Percent change
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Total nonfarm	3,036.9	3,057.5	3,068.0	3,075.7	38.8	1.3
Mining and logging	2.0	2.1	2.1	2.1	0.1	5.0
Construction	142.2	144.6	148.7	147.9	5.7	4.0
Manufacturing	181.3	182.6	182.3	182.9	1.6	0.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities	661.1	652.7	651.8	651.3	-9.8	-1.5
Information	109.4	98.2	95.5	95.4	-14.0	-12.8
Financial activities	202.2	207.4	207.3	208.1	5.9	2.9
Professional and business services	586.4	581.3	581.5	588.2	1.8	0.3
Education and health services	403.0	416.3	418.8	420.5	17.5	4.3
Leisure and hospitality	303.7	310.1	316.3	316.6	12.9	4.2
Other services	102.6	103.9	104.2	103.6	1.0	1.0
Government	343.0	358.3	359.5	359.1	16.1	4.7
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH (NECTA)
Total nonfarm	2,801.9	2,781.1	2,786.0	2,805.4	3.5	0.1
Mining, logging, and construction	128.4	120.1	122.3	126.9	-1.5	-1.2
Manufacturing	183.8	182.2	181.7	181.1	-2.7	-1.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities	401.6	399.6	399.0	398.6	-3.0	-0.7
Information	82.0	78.7	78.0	77.9	-4.1	-5.0
Financial activities	183.4	182.7	183.2	182.3	-1.1	-0.6
Professional and business services	534.6	523.0	519.9	526.6	-8.0	-1.5
Education and health services	610.7	624.8	624.7	626.1	15.4	2.5
Leisure and hospitality	258.8	247.5	252.5	260.1	1.3	0.5
Other services	102.3	101.7	102.7	103.6	1.3	1.3
Government	316.3	320.8	322.0	322.2	5.9	1.9
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
Total nonfarm	4,747.1	4,701.7	4,726.8	4,764.5	17.4	0.4
Mining and logging	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	0.0	0.0
Construction	182.2	162.7	169.3	177.9	-4.3	-2.4
Manufacturing	412.1	419.1	420.1	421.1	9.0	2.2
Trade, transportation, and utilities	961.3	952.3	956.0	957.1	-4.2	-0.4
Information	79.2	77.5	77.8	77.4	-1.8	-2.3
Financial activities	316.7	315.6	314.4	312.5	-4.2	-1.3
Professional and business services	844.9	801.6	801.2	812.3	-32.6	-3.9
Education and health services	757.3	775.8	777.1	782.4	25.1	3.3
Leisure and hospitality	459.2	449.9	459.1	471.1	11.9	2.6
Other services	194.4	199.3	199.9	200.3	5.9	3.0
Government	538.3	546.4	550.4	550.9	12.6	2.3
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Total nonfarm	4,202.7	4,250.8	4,245.3	4,278.1	75.4	1.8
Mining, logging, and construction	242.5	250.1	250.4	251.7	9.2	3.8
Manufacturing	304.4	310.4	309.0	310.0	5.6	1.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities	888.6	896.2	892.4	895.9	7.3	0.8
Information	92.9	90.5	91.0	90.9	-2.0	-2.2
Financial activities	364.9	368.8	367.4	370.4	5.5	1.5
Professional and business services	780.2	777.0	767.5	774.3	-5.9	-0.8
Education and health services	500.9	512.6	513.7	519.0	18.1	3.6
Leisure and hospitality	419.2	418.3	423.4	431.5	12.3	2.9
Other services	134.2	140.4	142.2	143.6	9.4	7.0
Government	474.9	486.5	488.3	490.8	15.9	3.3
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
Total nonfarm	3,356.7	3,417.6	3,418.3	3,437.4	80.7	2.4
Mining and logging	70.6	70.6	71.6	71.2	0.6	0.8
Construction	232.4	233.6	235.0	237.3	4.9	2.1
Manufacturing	232.3	237.4	236.2	236.7	4.4	1.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities	681.1	686.9	684.1	685.8	4.7	0.7
Information	33.2	32.6	32.2	32.3	-0.9	-2.7
Financial activities	185.7	186.6	186.3	187.5	1.8	1.0
Professional and business services	551.9	560.3	557.2	561.1	9.2	1.7
Education and health services	444.4	464.7	466.4	468.2	23.8	5.4
Leisure and hospitality	355.0	353.2	355.6	361.9	6.9	1.9
Other services	124.7	130.7	130.8	132.6	7.9	6.3
Government	445.4	461.0	462.9	462.8	17.4	3.9
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Total nonfarm	6,219.5	6,235.0	6,252.6	6,273.1	53.6	0.9
Mining and logging	2.0	1.9	1.9	1.9	-0.1	-5.0
Construction	254.0	253.0	253.7	252.4	-1.6	-0.6
Manufacturing	475.2	471.3	470.1	468.8	-6.4	-1.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities	1,076.9	1,081.7	1,077.3	1,077.2	0.3	0.0
Information	222.8	203.6	206.1	206.9	-15.9	-7.1
Financial activities	315.3	313.0	310.9	311.7	-3.6	-1.1
Professional and business services	979.3	961.6	960.6	960.5	-18.8	-1.9
Education and health services	1,174.3	1,217.4	1,228.2	1,237.2	62.9	5.4
Leisure and hospitality	759.4	758.9	765.6	773.3	13.9	1.8
Other services	211.4	215.4	216.5	217.8	6.4	3.0
Government	748.9	757.2	761.7	765.4	16.5	2.2
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Total nonfarm	2,897.6	2,953.6	2,958.4	2,968.0	70.4	2.4
Construction	150.0	156.3	157.8	158.3	8.3	5.5
Manufacturing	97.2	98.7	98.7	99.4	2.2	2.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities	644.3	658.4	655.2	656.0	11.7	1.8
Information	56.2	54.9	55.1	55.6	-0.6	-1.1
Financial activities	215.2	217.1	216.6	215.1	-0.1	0.0
Professional and business services	519.0	515.0	514.5	519.8	0.8	0.2
Education and health services	447.3	461.3	463.4	465.6	18.3	4.1
Leisure and hospitality	342.1	354.7	356.7	357.9	15.8	4.6
Other services	114.1	116.3	117.6	117.9	3.8	3.3
Government	311.4	320.0	321.9	321.5	10.1	3.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
Total nonfarm	9,984.8	10,008.7	10,088.7	10,140.0	155.2	1.6
Mining, logging, and construction	400.0	377.7	389.8	400.5	0.5	0.1
Manufacturing	347.0	344.5	346.0	346.2	-0.8	-0.2
Trade, transportation, and utilities	1,650.8	1,650.8	1,651.3	1,651.8	1.0	0.1
Information	321.6	308.9	309.6	305.3	-16.3	-5.1
Financial activities	814.7	821.2	820.3	816.5	1.8	0.2
Professional and business services	1,648.0	1,609.9	1,623.5	1,635.4	-12.6	-0.8
Education and health services	2,204.0	2,296.8	2,318.4	2,333.0	129.0	5.9
Leisure and hospitality	894.1	882.5	900.8	920.9	26.8	3.0
Other services	403.2	403.2	409.0	409.7	6.5	1.6
Government	1,301.4	1,313.2	1,320.0	1,320.7	19.3	1.5
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Total nonfarm	3,064.6	3,065.2	3,084.1	3,104.1	39.5	1.3
Mining, logging, and construction	125.1	117.6	120.2	124.9	-0.2	-0.2
Manufacturing	180.9	182.0	181.5	181.0	0.1	0.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities	540.0	534.6	535.3	535.8	-4.2	-0.8
Information	53.8	52.8	52.7	52.9	-0.9	-1.7
Financial activities	228.5	229.6	230.3	229.8	1.3	0.6
Professional and business services	502.1	487.7	490.6	495.7	-6.4	-1.3
Education and health services	704.3	730.2	734.3	736.5	32.2	4.6
Leisure and hospitality	267.8	259.8	267.0	275.1	7.3	2.7
Other services	122.6	122.4	123.0	123.6	1.0	0.8
Government	339.5	348.5	349.2	348.8	9.3	2.7
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
Total nonfarm	2,405.3	2,445.5	2,445.9	2,456.0	50.7	2.1
Mining and logging	3.3	3.8	3.8	3.8	0.5	15.2
Construction	167.5	170.4	170.5	171.1	3.6	2.1
Manufacturing	149.4	148.1	147.3	147.3	-2.1	-1.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities	464.5	475.8	476.1	477.0	12.5	2.7
Information	43.0	40.8	40.6	40.9	-2.1	-4.9
Financial activities	212.0	210.9	209.6	210.7	-1.3	-0.6
Professional and business services	392.1	395.3	396.1	398.4	6.3	1.6
Education and health services	384.9	408.7	409.5	412.6	27.7	7.2
Leisure and hospitality	258.2	250.9	251.3	251.5	-6.7	-2.6
Other services	76.8	77.8	77.9	78.8	2.0	2.6
Government	253.6	263.0	263.2	263.9	10.3	4.1
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
Total nonfarm	2,463.3	2,453.3	2,459.6	2,465.1	1.8	0.1
Mining and logging	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.0	0.0
Construction	123.3	118.4	120.5	119.4	-3.9	-3.2
Manufacturing	152.7	148.6	148.8	147.6	-5.1	-3.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities	346.9	347.1	345.5	346.6	-0.3	-0.1
Information	146.7	135.2	133.9	133.6	-13.1	-8.9
Financial activities	137.9	134.3	133.7	134.2	-3.7	-2.7
Professional and business services	509.3	499.4	498.2	498.6	-10.7	-2.1
Education and health services	392.5	408.7	410.6	413.6	21.1	5.4
Leisure and hospitality	249.1	250.1	252.1	254.4	5.3	2.1
Other services	83.7	85.8	86.9	87.8	4.1	4.9
Government	320.8	325.3	329.0	328.9	8.1	2.5
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Total nonfarm	3,358.1	3,348.8	3,361.9	3,381.2	23.1	0.7
Mining, logging, and construction	163.2	157.9	160.4	160.5	-2.7	-1.7
Manufacturing	57.0	57.3	57.7	58.2	1.2	2.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities	399.3	401.6	400.6	399.7	0.4	0.1
Information	82.0	79.0	79.4	79.2	-2.8	-3.4
Financial activities	154.8	150.3	150.9	150.1	-4.7	-3.0
Professional and business services	817.0	803.6	805.7	812.4	-4.6	-0.6
Education and health services	455.1	465.6	464.8	467.2	12.1	2.7
Leisure and hospitality	318.5	306.1	310.3	319.9	1.4	0.4
Other services	192.2	193.2	194.8	196.0	3.8	2.0
Government	719.0	734.2	737.3	738.0	19.0	2.6
(p) Preliminary