With a labor force of nearly 3.5 million workers, the Houston MSA boasts a diverse mix of talent at all skill levels necessary for a
wide range of industries including business/professional services, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and technology. Houston is also a top-ranking market for attracting millennials and retaining college graduates due to a relatively high local income, moderate cost of living and the absence of state taxes.
Consistently ranked among the nation's leaders when it comes to job growth, Houston set a record for employment growth in 2021, adding 170,000 jobs or +5.7% growth year-over-year (YOY). The Houston metro area added another 148,200 jobs in 2022 and 77,200 jobs in 2023, (+4.7% and +2.3%, respectively, YOY).
Three sectors make up just over half of the total employment in Houston: trade, transportation and utilities (21%); professional services (17%); and education and health services (14%). Growth in the office-using sector was positive in 2023, but decelerated from the rate of the prior two years. After growing 6.5% during 2021 and another 5.4% during 2022, office-using job growth in 2023 was closer to 2.0%.