San Antonio's unemployment rate rose to 4.5% even as jobs grew. Employers can expect more applicants per opening, but only if they screen and respond faster than the next offer.
Unemployment in the San Antonio metro climbed from 4.3% to 4.5% over the year, while total nonfarm jobs still grew +0.5%. The labor force stands at 1.36 million against 1.19 million nonfarm jobs. For employers, that means a deeper applicant pool than a year ago. The work shifts from finding people to sorting and contacting them quickly.
Pay is the other lever. Local medians for many high-volume roles sit below national medians. Retail salespersons earn a median of $14.88 locally versus $17.03 nationally, and customer service reps earn $20.54 versus $21.53. Lower local pay helps cost control. It also means a small raise elsewhere can pull your candidates away.
Below you will find the labor snapshot, wage table, industry mix and Texas hiring rules. Each section explains what the numbers mean for your next round of hiring.
Unemployment of 4.5% sits close to the U.S. rate of 4.2%, and it is up from 4.3% a year ago. Expect more applications per posting. Budget screening time accordingly, because volume without fast triage just creates a backlog.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, CES). "Preliminary" figures may be revised. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
| Occupation | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales representatives of services | $15.00 | $24.33 | $52.10 | 9,460 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing | $16.74 | $29.86 | $60.86 | 5,570 |
| Telemarketers | $15.26 | $16.49 | $18.21 | 680 |
| Customer service representatives | $14.08 | $20.54 | $27.08 | 34,730 |
| Retail salespersons | $11.13 | $14.88 | $21.77 | 27,580 |
| Cashiers | $10.93 | $14.33 | $17.95 | 20,620 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers | $14.12 | $18.01 | $23.97 | 13,440 |
| Fast food and counter workers | $10.73 | $13.37 | $17.11 | 40,040 |
| Janitors and cleaners | $11.31 | $16.61 | $21.75 | 15,420 |
| Sales managers | $30.46 | $59.97 | $112.21 | 4,720 |
Most local medians here run below national medians. Laborers and material movers earn $18.01 against $19.35 nationally, and fast food and counter workers earn $13.37 against $15.00. Use the 10th-to-90th percentile ranges to see where your offer actually lands, not just the median.
216,300 jobs · 18.2% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Trade, transportation, and utilities grew +2.8% from the largest base in the metro, so expect steady demand for warehouse movers, drivers and sales associates and keep an always-open pipeline for those roles.
180,300 jobs · 15.1% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Private education and health services pulled back −2.0%, which may free up experienced aides, medical assistants and support staff, so re-engage past applicants in this field before posting fresh.
162,400 jobs · 13.6% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Professional and business services grew fastest at +4.8%, so contact-center, outbound sales and staffing roles face the most competition and reward the fastest first response.
149,500 jobs · 12.5% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Leisure and hospitality held roughly flat at +0.3% with a 12.5% share, which points to replacement hiring driven by turnover rather than new growth.
101,900 jobs · 8.6% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Financial activities grew +0.3% at a 8.6% share, so teller, claims and agent hiring will be steady but selective, favoring structured screening over volume outreach.
Trade, transportation, and utilities is the largest sector at 18.2% of jobs, and Professional and business services grew fastest at +4.8%. Those two sectors compete for the same warehouse, driver, contact-center and sales talent. Plan for overlap in your candidate pool.
The table summarizes state-level findings and a state law that limits local employment rules in San Antonio. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant agency or your employment counsel before changing hiring practices.
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 San Antonio 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.
Rising unemployment means more applications per opening. Set clear must-have criteria before you post and rank applicants against them on day one. Contact your top tier within hours, not days. A deep pool only helps if you reach the best people first.
Services sales reps earn from $15.00 to $52.10 an hour, a wide spread driven by commission and performance pay. Candidates discount vague upside. State the base, a realistic typical earning and what top performers make. Put it in the first message, not the final interview.
Professional and business services grew +4.8%, the fastest of the top sectors. Customer service reps here earn a median of $20.54, so pay alone rarely separates offers. Text candidates, let them book their own interview slot and send automatic reminders. The employer who schedules first often hires first.
Private education and health services contracted −2.0%. Experienced aides and clinic staff from that pullback may be looking. Segment past applicants by role and credentials and send a targeted message about open positions. Re-engaging known candidates is faster than starting from zero.
Trade, transportation, and utilities and Leisure and hospitality together make up a large share of local jobs and hire in waves. Use templated messages and bulk status moves so one recruiter can handle a full hiring event. Automate interview confirmations so no-shows do not eat your day.
San Antonio's problem right now is volume and speed: more applicants per opening and fast-growing sectors competing for the same people. AI-Powered Candidate Ranking parses resumes and builds shortlists on your criteria, so the larger pool gets sorted on day one. Conversational SMS & Automations keeps two-way texting in one inbox with triggers based on status, time and action, so top candidates hear back quickly. For hiring waves in logistics and hospitality, Bulk Actions at Scale lets a small team message and move thousands of candidates at once.
Check the wage table for your exact role. Cashiers earn a median of $14.33 and fast food and counter workers $13.37, both below national medians. The Texas minimum wage is $7.25, but most high-volume roles pay well above it. Price your offer against the local percentile range, not the floor.
Applicant supply is likely better. Unemployment rose from 4.3% to 4.5%, so more people are looking. Competition has not disappeared, though, since jobs still grew +0.5% and some sectors grew faster. Speed of response still decides many hires.
Yes, with care. Get clear opt-in consent before texting, usually at the application step, and honor STOP or opt-out replies right away. Keep messages relevant to the application. Confirm your specific obligations with counsel.
The table notes that no statewide ban-the-box or pay transparency requirement was identified in the sources reviewed. It also notes a state law that bars San Antonio from adopting or enforcing local rules on hiring practices and other terms of employment that exceed state or federal law. This is general information, not legal advice, so confirm with the relevant agency or your counsel.
Set screening criteria up front, use templated messages, and move candidates in bulk rather than one by one. Let candidates book their own interviews and send automatic reminders to cut no-shows. Track first-contact time so the volume does not slow you down.
Sources and data currency
Labor data as of August 2026; wage data May 2025; rules checked October 15, 2026. Next scheduled review: January 18, 2027. This page is educational market information for employers.
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