Texas employment tops 14 million for the first time, and statewide job growth is outpacing the national rate

In the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area, about 9,400 more people found employment in September, and the unemployment rate fell to 3.8% from 4.3% in August. This is still more than a year ago, when it was 3.5%.

A MONTH AGO:The unemployment rate in the San Antonio-New Braunfels area has reached 4.3%; employment will fall by 1,500 people in August

Statewide, unemployment remained steady at 4.1%.

Texas has achieved growth in all major private sectors, creating a business environment that enables Texas employers, large and small, to prosper, grow and succeed, AaronDemerson, the labor commissioner representing employers, said in a statement.

The seasonally adjusted civilian labor force reached a record high of 15.14 million, after increasing by almost 30,000 in September. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said Texas job growth led both in September and over the past 12 months, despite some prior monthly declines.

RELATED: Texas’ unemployment rate is among the worst in the world, but experts say it signals a growing economy

State data showed that employment increased in nine of the state’s 11 major industries in September. The trade, transport and utilities sectors led the way with an increase of 15,200 people, and the professional and business services sector with an increase of 14,900. A further 13,800 positions were added in private education and healthcare and 8,000 in industry.

In San Antonio-New Braunfels, employment in trade, transportation and utilities increased by 3,100 to a total of 206,700; professional and business services added 500 to 161,200; private education and healthcare added 9,400 to 179,600; and production added 2,000 for a total of 33,700.

The lowest unemployment rate in the state was in the Midland region, where the unemployment rate was 2.5%. This was followed by Amarillo with 3.2%, College Station-Bryan with 3.2% and Lubbock with 3.3%. The highest unemployment rate was recorded in Beaumont-Port Arthur and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, both at 5.8%. Brownsville-Harlingen’s interest rate was 5.3% and El Paso’s was 4.7%.