Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas ranked among the top U.S. metropolitan areas for the most number of jobs added over the last 12 months, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The largest job gains for the 12 months ended Sept. 30 were in the New York area (+130,500), the Houston area (+119,400) and the Los Angeles area (+102,000). The Dallas-Fort Worth area was No. 4 (+100,200).
The Dallas-Plano-Irving division — a finer slice of the metropolitan pie — performed even better: It gained 78,000 jobs, or a 3.6 percent increase over the last year.
Overall, payroll employment increased in 314 of the nation’s 372 metro areas, decreased in 53 and was unchanged in five areas in the last 12 months.
By percentage, metro areas rank differently. The largest 12-month percentage gains in employment were in Muncie, Ind. (+8.9 percent), Midland (+6.4 percent) and Elkhart-Goshen, Ind. (+5.4 percent). The Dallas-Fort Worth’s employment gain was 3.2 percent.
Just for the month of September, the Los Angeles area added the most jobs (40,000). Houston was No. 2 (+23,600). The D-FW was No. 37 (+4,800).
Unemployment rates
Unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 339 metro areas, higher in 26 areas and unchanged in seven areas. Nearly one-third of all metro areas (118) had jobless rates of less than 5 percent; six metros had rates of 10 percent or higher.
The D-FW unemployment rate last month was 5 percent. Across Texas, fourteen metro areas had jobless rates of less than 5 percent in September.
Yuma, Ariz., had the highest unemployment rates in September (25.9 percent). Bismarck, N.D., had the lowest rate (2.1 percent).
The U.S. unemployment rate in September was 5.7 percent, down from 7 percent a year earlier.
None of the employment or unemployment data above has been adjusted for seasonal variations.