Midland Unemployment Falls to 2.9%, Lowest in Texas as Nonfarm Jobs Jump 1,600

3 articles · Updated · Midland Reporter-Telegram · May 26

Midland’s jobless rate dipped to 2.9% in April from 3.0% in March, keeping the metro at the lowest unemployment level in Texas, though still above 2.6% a year earlier.
1,600 nonfarm jobs were added over the month to 128,900, led by 1,200 new positions in mining, logging and construction, while government was the only sector to shrink, down 100 jobs.
104,141 Midland residents were employed in April, up from 102,962 in March, as the labor force expanded to 107,199 and the number of unemployed fell to 3,058.
Odessa’s rate also eased to 3.6%, and statewide unemployment held at 4.3%; Eagle Pass posted Texas’ highest rate at 8.5%.
$1.23 billion in fourth-quarter 2025 wages in natural resources and mining underscored the region’s tight labor market, which local workforce officials described as effectively full employment despite uncertainty over AI’s impact.

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