The state of Texas continues to add manufacturing jobs at a steady clip, according to data collected firsthand from the state’s manufacturers by MNI’s research team.
Texas is currently home to 20,144 manufacturers, according to data collected firsthand from Texas manufacturers by MNI’s data research team. Ranking second in the nation, after California, for number of manufacturing jobs, the state’s manufacturing workforce numbers 1,276,706.
Between April 2021 and April 2022, Texas added 7,157 manufacturing jobs, or roughly one half of one percent.
Manufacturing Hiring Trends in Texas by Industry
Texas’ manufacturing job gains were led primarily by the state’s fabricated metals industries, while its sizable electronics sector also added jobs.
Industrial machinery and equipment ranks as Texas’ largest manufacturing sector by number of jobs, employing 170,290, with employment steady over the past year. Fabricated metals ranks second with 133,660 workers, up 1.3% over the year, while the electronics sector employs 96,935 workers, up roughly one percent.
Drilling down to specific subsectors, the state’s fabricated metals industry got a boost from plumbing fixture fittings & trim, which grew by 281 jobs or 26%. Miscellaneous metal work shot up 21%, while small arms added 19% and hand & edge tools added 12%. This trend is supported by Federal Reserve data that shows fabricated metals output has risen more than 7% in the past year. Meanwhile, the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association predicts 2022 could be a big year for fabricated metals manufacturers.
Meanwhile electronics subsectors adding jobs in Texas included lighting equipment, up 18%; electronic connectors, up 14%, and guided missiles & space vehicles, up 9%.
Trends Reveal Growth Among Top Lone Star Cities
Houston ranks as Texas’ largest city by number of manufacturing jobs and also has the distinction of ranking first among top U.S. manufacturing cities. The state’s manufacturing workforce numbers 259,241, and over the past year grew by 1.9%.
Second ranked Fort Worth accounts for 72,839, jobs while Austin ranks third with 70,217.
Industrial cities that added jobs included Fort Worth , up one percent. Midland, up 1.7% to 20,225. And Irving, up 1.6% to 23,196.
For the latest facts and statistics on Texas’s manufacturing sector, learn more in our post Top 10 Manufacturing Companies in Texas.
About This Data
Established in 1912, MNI is the nation’s oldest and largest compiler of data on U.S. manufacturers. The company's 80-person research team collectes multiple data points on each manufacturing company in the U.S., including employee counts for each company. These detailed business profiles of 460,000 U.S. industrial companies are available for sales, marketing, and prospecting purposes through the industrial database IndustrySelect, or for purchasing, sourcing and advertising through the industrial marketplace IndustryNet.
Looking to contact Texas manufacturing companies? Learn more about our Texas data for sales, marketing, business development and research here.
