Total Nonagricultural Employment within the Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) grew by 26,900 jobs in April. This marked the largest April job addition since 2000 and was well above the average April gain for the past five years of 13,200 jobs. Out of the twenty-seven MSAs, twenty-two posted employment increases over the month.
Leisure and Hospitality employment grew by 10,800 jobs in April. This increase was largely seasonal in nature as amusement parks, hotels, and restaurants added staff for the upcoming summer months. The largest gains were in the Dallas and Fort Worth-Arlington MSAs, which added 4,100 and 1,900 jobs, respectively.
Employment in Professional and Business Services increased for the third consecutive month with a gain of 5,500 jobs in April. The Dallas metropolitan area accounted for 40 percent of the increase with the majority of the gain coming from Employment Services, which includes temporary staffing firms, and Services to Buildings and Dwellings, which includes janitorial and landscaping services.
Retail Trade employment in the metropolitan areas grew by 3,500 jobs over the month, marking the largest April job gain since 1994. The annual growth rate for the industry rose to 1.0 percent, its highest level since June 2001. The Dallas MSA posted the largest over-the-month gain with an increase of 1,400 Retail Trade jobs.
Following a gain of 900 jobs in March, Financial Activities employment in the MSAs added 1,000 additional jobs in April. The largest increase was in the Austin-San Marcos metropolitan area, which gained 500 Financial Activities jobs over the month.
