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Metro Houston’s unemployment rate improved from 4.9 percent in July, to 4.7 in August, to 4.4 percent in September. This reflects a seasonal pattern, with the rate rising through mid-summer and then declining in the fall.  

The rate continues to decline even as the local workforce expands. Over 115,000 Houstonians have entered the workforce in the 12 months ending September ’24. At the current pace of growth, the local labor force should top 3.8 million by mid-’25. 

Among cities in the Houston region for which TWC publishes unemployment rates, Bryan had the lowest in August and Baytown the highest.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits ticked up immediately after Hurricane Beryl hit Houston but have since returned to normal levels. Claims averaged 3,776 per week in September, slightly above the average of 3,537 in the same month last year.

Continued claims filed by workers unemployed for a week or more rose immediately after Beryl, have tapered off since, but are roughly 5,000 above this time last year. Workers filing continued claims represent less than 1.0 percent of the region’s labor force.

Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research

Patrick Jankowski, CERP
Chief Economist 
Senior Vice President, Research
pjankowski@houston.org

Clara Richardson
Research Analyst
crichardson@houston.org