MRT: TX Adds Nearly 50k New Jobs in February; TMB Issues Abortion Guidance; Granger Steps Down as House Appropriations Chair
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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FRIDAY – 03/22/24
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TOP NEWS
“Texas employers add nearly 50,000 jobs in robust February hiring,” Dallas Morning News' Arcelia Martin -- “Texas employers added 49,800 jobs in February, marking the biggest one-month gain since last fall.
Job growth was driven by the state’s service-producing sector, with business services and private education and health services leading the way, according to data released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission. Those employers accounted for just over 20,000 of the jobs increase.
The construction industry also posted healthy gains, adding 7,800 jobs over the month in February and growing by 4% over the year, outpacing the national growth rate by 1.3 percentage points.
“The Texas workforce continues to show comprehensive growth, with jobs added across almost all major industries over the month,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel.
The state employment report comes two weeks after the most recent national data showing America’s employers delivered a healthy month of hiring in February, with a surprising 275,000 jobs created.
In Texas, total nonfarm employment has grown by 291,400 jobs from February 2023 to February 2024, TWC reported. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate mirrored the national rate at 3.9%.
The adjusted civilian labor force grew over the month by 25,800 people to reach 15,169,200 in February.
February’s job gains mark the 44th increase in the last 46 months.
Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas again smashes all previous records for total jobs, the number of Texans working and the size of the Texas labor force.
“Texas continues to dominate the nation in job creation because we’ve built a framework that allows free enterprise to flourish and hardworking Texans to succeed,” Abbott said in a statement. “That is why businesses are growing here, why jobs are growing here, and why the future is building here. The greatest measure of our success is that more Texans are working than ever before." DMN
HOU CHRON: “11-vehicle crash shuts down lanes on Interstate 10 in west Houston” Houston Chronicle
TX TRIB: “Texas Medical Board proposes new guidance for abortion medical exceptions” Texas Tribune
HOUSTON LANDING: “Mayor Whitmire promises shakeup in City Council rules, new process for member ordinances” Houston Landing
HOU CHRON: “HISD won't use proficiency screening ratings to fire principals” Houston Chronicle
TX TRIB: “U.S. Rep. Kay Granger steps down from powerful House appropriations leadership position” Texas Tribune
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports scores:
> NBA: Mavericks 113, Jazz 97 DMN
> NCAAM: #7 Texas 56, #10 Colorado St. 44 AP
> NCAAM: #11 N.C. State 80, #6 Texas Tech 67 LAJ
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 11:40am: NCAAM: #3 Baylor vs. #14 Colgate (TruTV)
> 5:50pm: NCAAM: #9 Texas A&M vs. #8 Nebraska (TNT)
> 7pm: NBA: Grizzlies vs. Spurs
> 7pm: NHL: Penguins at Stars (ESPN+)
> 8:20pm: NCAAM: #16 Longwood vs. #1 Houston (TNT)
> 8:55pm: NCAAM: #9 TCU vs. Utah St. (TBS)
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DALLAS COWBOYS: “Slow free agency has Dallas Cowboys trailing 27-0, all over again" DMN
TEXAS RANGERS: Cowlishaw: “Why Texas Rangers could repeat as World Series champs in 2024" DMN
TEXAS RANGERS: “Texas Rangers name Wyatt Langford to Opening Day roster" DMN
HOUSTON TEXANS: “Houston Texans: NFL to vote on Cal McNair becoming owner" Houston Chronicle