Houston Area Economic Summary
Updated June 28, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Unemployment rates for the Houston area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Houston area, 4th quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,067; Area = $1,248)
Unemployment rates
4.5
United States
4.1
4.9
Houston area
5.1
4.7
Fort Bend Co.
4.8
4.8
Galveston Co.
5.3
4.9
Harris Co.
5.1
4.7
Montgomery
Co.
0.0
4.6
2.0
4.0
May-16
6.0
May-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
Percent
12-month percent changes in employment
Houston area employment
(numbers in thousands)
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
-1.0
May-14
Houston area
May-15
United States
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
May-17
Total nonfarm
Mining and logging
Construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
•
May
2017
3,048.9
86.7
215.9
231.8
600.4
32.0
156.0
477.6
388.7
329.2
111.7
418.9
Change from May
2016 to May 2017
Number
Percent
45.3
-1.7
-5.3
8.7
-5.1
-0.7
1.5
11.6
9.7
11.9
2.7
12.0
1.5
-1.9
-2.4
3.9
-0.8
-2.1
1.0
2.5
2.6
3.8
2.5
2.9
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, April 2017
20.0
Percent
6.0
18.0
Houston area
U.S. city average
16.0
3.0
12.0
9.3
0.0
8.0
4.0
0.0
2.0
2.2
0.6
All Items
12-month percent changes in PPI
-3.0
0.5
Food
Energy
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Marine cargo handling
-6.0
May-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
Houston area average annual expenditures 2014-15
May-15
Housing
$21,672
32.3%
Healthcare
$4,296
6.4%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$7,000
10.4%
Food
$8,408
12.5%
Transportation
$13,462
20.0%
Total:
$67,161
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
Houston
area
United
States
Total, all occupations
$25.42
$23.86
Dentists, general
87.54
83.59
Petroleum engineers
79.74
70.69
Human resources managers
71.61
57.79
Computer systems analysts
47.51
44.05
Accountants and auditors
43.22
36.89
Registered nurses
37.27
34.70
Machinists
22.12
20.78
Customer service representatives
16.80
16.91
Medical secretaries
16.60
16.85
Construction laborers
15.79
18.22
Retail salespersons
12.66
13.07
9.59
9.89
Cooks, fast food
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Private industry, March 2017
May-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$12,323
18.3%
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
West South
Central (1)
$30.07
21.60
8.47
1.92
0.96
1.05
2.10
1.10
2.31
(1) West South Central includes AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$33.11
23.06
10.06
2.30
1.18
1.17
2.65
1.34
2.60
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
3.0
12-month percent changes in ECI
2.0
1.0
Houston area
0.0
Mar-14
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Southwest Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest • 972-850-4800
United States
Mar-16
Mar-17