Houston's unemployment rate is above the national figure, while construction is growing faster than any other large sector, which pulls hourly workers toward the trades.
The Houston metro has 3.92 million people in its labor force and 3.50 million payroll jobs. Unemployment is 5.0%, above the national 4.2% and roughly where it stood a year ago at 4.9%. Payroll jobs increased +1.3% over twelve months. A jobless rate that sits above the country's while employment grows means more people are searching than a headline growth figure suggests.
The sector picture sets Houston apart. Trade, transportation and utilities is the biggest group, but it was flat over the year at 0.0%. Construction, by contrast, grew +5.5% and now supplies 7.7% of payroll jobs. A building boom changes the competition for hourly labor: laborers and helpers, field sales and estimating roles, and installer positions all draw from the same pool as retail and service employers.
This page lays out the numbers Houston employers rely on: current labor-market indicators, hourly pay for common roles at the low, middle and high end of the range, the largest sectors and which Texas rules apply. Each number links to its source with the retrieval date.
Unemployment of 5.0% against 4.2% nationally, with a year-ago reading of 4.9%, points to a metro with a deeper candidate pool than the national average. Job growth of +1.3% keeps demand for workers steady.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, CES). "Preliminary" figures may be revised. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
| Occupation | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales representatives of services | $15.96 | $30.33 | $62.96 | 28,720 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing | $17.83 | $35.11 | $66.33 | 25,630 |
| Telemarketers | $13.41 | $20.51 | $26.85 | 320 |
| Customer service representatives | $13.75 | $19.42 | $28.77 | 65,510 |
| Retail salespersons | $11.23 | $15.07 | $21.96 | 78,960 |
| Cashiers | $10.73 | $14.11 | $17.78 | 54,950 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers | $14.26 | $18.27 | $25.13 | 52,520 |
| Fast food and counter workers | $10.40 | $13.25 | $16.93 | 105,810 |
| Janitors and cleaners | $11.16 | $14.74 | $21.55 | 48,880 |
| Sales managers | $33.02 | $65.33 | $129.33 | 16,430 |
Houston's median for services sales representatives is $30.33 an hour, below the national $33.65, with a range from $15.96 to $62.96. Laborers and material movers earn a median of $18.27, and that figure is the one construction growth pressures most.
695,600 jobs · 19.9% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Trade, transportation, and utilities is the largest group at 19.9% of jobs but moved 0.0%; it supplies steady warehouse, driver and retail hiring volume.
581,300 jobs · 16.6% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Professional and business services grew +2.6% and includes the staffing agencies, sales organizations and contact centers that hire in bulk.
476,400 jobs · 13.6% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Private education and health services rose +1.3%, keeping demand for aides and clinic staff steady.
376,900 jobs · 10.8% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Leisure and hospitality grew +1.3%, with shift-based roles that overlap with entry-level sales.
269,000 jobs · 7.7% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Construction grew +5.5%, the strongest of the five, and pulls laborers, installers and field sales talent.
Construction is the story in Houston's sector table: it is the fastest-growing of the five largest groups. That growth competes for hourly labor and for sales and estimating talent.
Texas sets employment rules at the state level and restricts what cities can add, so Houston employers follow the same framework as the rest of the state. Sources and dates are shown for each rule. This is general information, not legal advice.
No statewide background checks requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Source: Texas Legislature Online (reviewed) · checked October 15, 2026No statewide ban-the-box / fair chance requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Source: Texas Legislature Online, H.B. 2127 (88th Legislature, enrolled) · checked October 15, 2026Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, adopted from the federal rate; the tipped cash wage is $2.13, and cities and counties may not regulate this field.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (State Minimum Wage Laws) · checked October 15, 2026Texas enforces reasonable non-competes ancillary to an enforceable agreement, with added limits for physicians, dentists, nurses and physician assistants from September 1, 2025 (one-year, five-mile and buyout rules).
Source: Texas Legislature Online, S.B. 1318 (89th Legislature, enrolled) · checked October 15, 2026No statewide pay transparency requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Source: Texas Workforce Commission (reviewed) · checked October 15, 2026Texas Labor Code section 1.005 (HB 2127, 2023) bars Houston from adopting or enforcing local rules on employment leave, hiring practices, scheduling, benefits or other terms of employment that exceed state or federal law.
Full detail on the state rules is on the Texas hiring page.
General information, not legal advice.
Employment rules change and have exceptions that depend on employer size, industry and facts. This summary reflects the sources shown as of the dates shown (legal sources checked October 15, 2026). Confirm requirements with the relevant agency or qualified counsel before acting. For a deeper look at Texas's hiring-compliance laws, see our Texas hiring compliance guide.
Construction employment grew +5.5% over the year in the metro, the fastest of the five biggest sectors. Employers hiring laborers, field crews or door-to-door and home-services sales reps are competing with that growth. Lead with schedule predictability, pay clarity and advancement, because those are the levers candidates compare when the trades are hiring.
The largest sector, trade, transportation and utilities, was flat at 0.0%. Experienced warehouse, driver and retail workers there may have less internal movement than they want. A first message that names a concrete next step, such as an interview slot that day, gets attention.
Services sales representatives range from $15.96 to $62.96 an hour in Houston. State base, commission and the typical timeline to the upper range in the first screen, and add a screening question about how candidates prefer to be paid.
A jobless rate above the national figure produces many applications per posting. Automate acknowledgments and next-step messages so recruiters spend time on conversations, and move whole groups forward with bulk actions.
Houston employers who recruit across trades, field sales and service roles can run them from one platform. Bulk actions handle the volume, applicant capture and apply pages give each division its own branded page, and automated engagement workflows send replies and reminders when a status changes. See pricing or book a demo.
Unemployment is 5.0%, above the national rate of 4.2%, and about level with 4.9% a year ago. The candidate pool is relatively deep, so reply speed and clarity matter more than posting volume.
Laborers and freight, stock and material movers have a median of $18.27 an hour. Services sales representatives have a median of $30.33, with a range from $15.96 to $62.96.
Texas Labor Code section 1.005 limits cities from adding employment rules beyond state or federal law, per the source linked in the rules section. Court decisions can affect how it applies, so confirm with counsel.
In the sources we reviewed, we did not identify a statewide requirement for private employers to publish pay ranges. Publishing a range often helps response, and federal rules may still apply.
Make the next step immediate: text applicants within minutes, offer a booking link, and remind them before the interview. Speed and a clear schedule are the factors candidates weigh when several employers are hiring.
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Sources and data currency
Labor data as of August 2026; wage data May 2025; rules checked October 15, 2026. Next scheduled review: January 13, 2027. This page is educational market information for employers.
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