COLLEGE STATION – A couple of years ago, it was hard to imagine Texas recovering from substantial COVID-related job losses. However, a Texas Real Estate Research Center (TRERC) research economist says data show the state’s job numbers have “roared back.”
TRERC’s Dr. Adam Perdue said Texas employment has more than recovered relative to the 2016-19 trend line for the last few months, even outperforming the U.S. (Figure 1).
He said Austin and DFW have contributed significantly to this outsized performance, while San Antonio and, especially, Houston have lagged (Figure 2).
“This complete return to the former trend line is unusual,” Perdue said. “We’ve surpassed levels we would have forecast even if COVID had never happened.”
Source: Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University
Source: Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University