Houston Market Snapshot
February 2023
Note: Most recent data available.
Throughout the Houston area, businesses in manufacturing, construction and other blue-collar sectors report a shortage of job applicants. With a tight labor market spurring competition for front-line and entry level workers, the number of job postings continues to rise. More than 9,000 jobs were added in the Dallas area during the month of February 2023.
Meanwhile, many area employers are boosting wages to attract and retain workers. The average hourly wage for the Houston metro area in February 2023 was $33.42, a notable increase of 10.9% year over year.
jobs Added
+9,000
year over year
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
4.8%
up from 4.5% in January 2023
WAGE CHANGE
+4.2%
year over year
- Leisure and hospitality had the largest YoY employment gain among local private-industry supersectors with 1,400 jobs added.
- Nonfarm wage and salary employment in the Houston area is up 4.6% YoY.
- The unemployment rate in the U.S. is 3.9%, compared to 4.8% in the Houston area.
Houston Jobs Breakdown
Q1 2023
BARTENDERS
- Unique Job Postings: 653
- Jobs Change: ↑ 23.9% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $10.68
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $18.03
LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING WORKERS
- Unique Job Postings: 735
- Jobs Change: ↑ 18.4% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $11.75
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $12.98
HOSTS & HOSTESSES
- Unique Job Postings: 776
- Jobs Change: ↑ 11.2% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $10.66
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $13.02
FAST FOOD & COUNTER WORKERS
- Unique Job Postings: 2,921
- Jobs Change: ↑ 11.1% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $10.62
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $12.00
OFFICE CLERKS
- Unique Job Postings: 1,002
- Jobs Change: ↑ 7.7% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $17.20
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $16.09
FREIGHT, STOCK & MATERIAL MOVERS
- Unique Job Postings: 2,061
- Jobs Change: ↑ 3.4% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $14.49
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $16.06
About PeopleReady
PeopleReady connects people with work throughout the Houston market. We put a Workforce Within Reach™ across a variety of industries, including hospitality, retail, manufacturing, construction and more. If you’re struggling to find workers in this competitive market, call us at 214.358.0684 to find staffing solutions now.
SOURCES
- U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- Emsi, April 3, 2023
