Texas’ economy is in a good place as it continues to attract more employers. It looks like Texas was able to start 2017 with a hiring bang. The January employment numbers were already out, which indicated a good start for the state.

According to Midland Reporter-Telegram, Texas was able to add 51,300 new non-farm jobs. The unemployment rate of the state now stands at 4.8 percent. The job increase was such a great news for a lot of people. It indicated that the negative effects of the oil downturn were already behind Texas and that the state was able to recover from it. 2015 was considered as the worst of the oil downturn.

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Andres Alcantar shared that Texas employers and its workforce started 2017 on a positive note, with more than 50,000 additional jobs in January. Alcantar added, “Employers in a diverse range of industries have added 225,300 jobs over the year, a reflection of the many competitive advantages Texas offers to employers, including a strong business climate and an expanding and highly skilled workforce," as reported by Everything Lubbock.

Reportedly, the professional and business services industry had the largest employment gain with 14,000 jobs added. This kind of pattern is unexpected because large industries are expanding so are their workforce. This is very common in most of the industrialized countries. As for the trade, transportation, and utility employment, they provided 8,100 jobs in January. The manufacturing side expanded by 7,300 jobs while construction was up by 5,300.

The job increase was evident in most of the state’s metropolitan areas. For over the past year, greater Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and El Paso showed significant job growth. However, Houston’s seemingly a little left behind with its growth.

“I encourage all job seekers to contact their local Workforce Solutions office for assistance with job training, placement, and other specialized employment services,” said Julian Alvarez, TWC Commissioner Representing Labor.

Meanwhile, Jobs & Hire reported that the General Motors Co. is set to layoff around 1,100 workers from its Lansing Delta Township plant in Michigan. The largest automaker in the United States shifts production to its factory in Tennessee.

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