Texas is America’s economic engine: The Lone Star State leaves the rest of America behind as new numbers show Abbott’s economy added tens of thousands of jobs while national growth slows dramatically
Texas – Texas is once again flexing its economic strength after new federal labor numbers showed the state added more jobs than any other in the country, reinforcing Governor Greg Abbott’s argument that the Lone Star State continues to outperform much of the nation economically.
Fresh data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Texas added 46,800 nonfarm jobs during the month of March alone, a figure that pushed the state to another historic employment milestone. The new numbers come at a time when economic uncertainty and slower growth continue to affect other parts of the country.
Governor Abbott quickly celebrated the report, presenting Texas as the center of American economic momentum.
“Texas is where free enterprise flourishes and jobs grow,” said Governor Abbott. “With the best business climate in the nation and a highly skilled and growing workforce, Texas is America’s economic engine. There is no better place to build a business, raise a family, and pursue a more prosperous future.”
Texas Keeps Breaking Records
According to labor market figures released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission, total nonfarm employment in Texas has now climbed to a record 14,403,500 jobs.
The report also showed that Texas gained 117,200 jobs between March 2025 and March 2026, a pace that outperformed the national annual job growth rate.
Meanwhile, the total number of Texans working — including self-employed residents — reached 15,236,600. The state’s labor force also expanded significantly, climbing to 15,916,600 after adding another 82,200 people over the past year.
The latest figures add to a much larger trend that Abbott and Texas Republicans have repeatedly pointed to as proof that the state’s low-tax, business-friendly approach continues attracting companies, workers, and investment.
Since Abbott first took office in January 2015, Texas has added nearly 2.6 million jobs.
The strong labor report arrived just days after another major economic headline for the state.
Earlier this week, Abbott celebrated Texas winning the 2026 Prosperity Cup, an award presented annually by Site Selection magazine to the top-performing state for job-creating business investment.
The back-to-back announcements gave Republicans fresh ammunition in their long-running argument that Texas has become the country’s dominant economic powerhouse, especially as businesses continue relocating operations from states with higher taxes and stricter regulations.
Supporters of Abbott’s policies argue the numbers reflect years of aggressive economic expansion, workforce development, and pro-business legislation designed to make Texas attractive to employers.
Critics, however, have argued that rapid growth also brings major challenges, including rising housing costs, infrastructure strain, and increasing pressure on public services in fast-growing cities and suburbs.
Still, the newest jobs report offers another major political win for Abbott as Texas continues positioning itself not just as a large state economy, but as one of the primary drivers of economic growth in the entire country.
