EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Texas has reached a new milestone in employment, setting a record for total nonfarm jobs following strong gains in March, according to state officials.

Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas added 46,800 jobs over the month, bringing the total number of nonfarm jobs to an all-time high of 14,403,500.

Over the past year, from March 2025 to March 2026, the state gained 117,200 jobs—outpacing the national annual job growth rate.

“Texas is where free enterprise flourishes and jobs grow,” Abbott said in a statement, crediting the state’s economic environment and workforce for continued expansion. He emphasized policies focused on reducing regulations and supporting business investment as key drivers behind the growth.

Data from the Texas Workforce Commission highlights the state’s robust labor market:

• Total nonfarm employment reached 14.4 million after March gains.
• Year-over-year job growth added more than 117,000 positions.
• The number of working Texans, including self-employed individuals, climbed to 15,236,600.
• The overall labor force expanded to 15,916,600, with an increase of 82,200 people over the past year.

Since Abbott took office in 2015, Texas has added nearly 2.6 million jobs, reflecting long-term economic expansion across multiple industries, his office stated.

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