Construction employment in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area increased by 13,800 jobs (5 percent) between September 2025 and September 2026, according to an analysis of government employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Associated General Contractors of Americaanalyzed government employment data
Ken Simonsonchief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America
The facts
Construction employment increased in half of 360 U.S. metro areas between September 2025 and September 2026.1
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro added 13,800 construction jobs (5%) between September 2025 and September 2026.1
Construction employment declined in 118 metro areas and was unchanged in 62 areas during the period.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Ken Simonson, chief economist Correlation exists between data center/power/manufacturing facility construction and metro areas adding construction jobs.1
Ken Simonson, chief economist Demand for other project types stalled by rising costs and political uncertainty.1
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Researchers at SMU's Department of Economics co-authored a study analyzing U.S. job characteristics from 2008 to 2025. They found psychological demands in the average job rose 1.5% while decision latitude increased 3%, but workers were not compensated with higher wages for increased stress.
Fabien Postel-Vinay, Research professor in SMU Department of Economics, study co-author; Grégory Jolivet, Study co-author, University of Bristol and Institute for Fiscal Studies; SMU Department of Economics, Institution conducting research
The U.S. Census Bureau released 2025 data showing Texas median household income at $82,625, up slightly from 2024 but below the national median of $84,780. Income growth was uneven across regions and demographic groups, while housing cost burdens remained high.
$Median property tax bill for homeowners without mortgages shrank 4.2% from 2024 to 2025; bill was essentially flat for homeowners with mortgages.
U.S. Census Bureau, released 2025 household income and poverty data
Bumpers Drive-In, a Southern fast-food chain based in Mississippi, is opening its first Texas restaurant in Henderson. The location will serve burgers, chicken, sandwiches, catfish and other drive-in fare and bring dozens of jobs to the area.
James Brown, Franchisee; Bumpers Restaurants, Parent company
WalletHub ranked Texas as the eighth-best state for finding a job based on a survey comparing all 50 states across 34 indicators of job-market strength and economic health.
WalletHub, conducted job market ranking survey; Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, reported on Texas employment; Luis Torres, Dallas Fed senior business economist and 1 more
Texas pumpkin prices increased following a lower than average harvest caused by drought conditions across the state over the summer. Pumpkin production in Floyd County, the Pumpkin Capital of Texas, was down 30 to 40 percent due to drought.
Caleb Neri, H-Town Pumpkin Patch owner; Bernadette Woods Placky, Executive director of Talking Climate Collaborative
A University of Houston survey of 2,000 likely Texas voters found that 79% support limiting the number of data centers built in Texas. The survey also found 99% believe data center companies should pay for electrical grid expansion their operations require.
University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs, conducted survey
The Texas Women's Foundation released a report tracking women's economic indicators across Texas. The report finds women working full-time earn 81 cents for every dollar earned by men, down from 83 cents in the previous report. Childcare access is identified as the biggest barrier to economic opportunity.
$nearly $12,000 for average cost of center-based infant care per year in Texas
Texas Women's Foundation, organization that conducted report; Karen Hughes White, president and CEO of Texas Women's Foundation; Every Texan, policy group that partnered on research