Conroe, TX – January 2024 Jobs Report – Steady Growth Amidst Regional Uncertainty

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The Conroe job market maintained positive momentum in January 2024, adding jobs across various sectors. While the growth wasn’t as robust as the national average, it indicates continued economic resilience in the region. However, ongoing concerns about the broader Texas economy and national trends cast some shadows on the future outlook.

Highlights:

  • Job growth: Conroe added approximately 1,200 jobs in January, representing a 0.8% increase in total employment.
  • Unemployment rate: The unemployment rate remained steady at 3.1%, reflecting a tight labor market.
  • Wage growth: Average weekly wages grew slightly compared to December 2023, reaching $980.

What Industries and Occupations Grew:

  • Professional and business services: This sector led the job gains, adding over 400 positions, primarily in management, administrative, and technical roles.
  • Education and healthcare: Both sectors saw moderate growth, driven by increasing demand for teachers, nurses, and healthcare support staff.
  • Construction: The construction industry experienced modest job gains, reflecting ongoing development activity in the region.

What Industries and Occupations Shrank:

  • Leisure and hospitality: This sector lost around 100 jobs, potentially due to seasonal fluctuations in tourism and hospitality demand.
  • Retail trade: The retail sector saw a slight decline in employment, continuing a national trend of sluggish job growth.

Compare to Same Month Last Year:

  • Job growth in January 2024 was slightly slower than the 1.1% increase recorded in January 2023.
  • The unemployment rate remained unchanged compared to January 2023.
  • Average weekly wages saw a moderate increase compared to the same month last year.

Compare to Previous Month:

  • Job growth in January 2024 was slightly higher than the 0.6% increase in December 2023.
  • The unemployment rate remained unchanged compared to December 2023.
  • Average weekly wages remained relatively flat compared to the previous month.

Future Outlook:

The future outlook for the Conroe job market is cautiously optimistic. Continued growth in the professional and business services sector, coupled with ongoing development activity, suggests potential for sustained job creation. However, regional and national economic uncertainties might dampen the pace of growth in the coming months.

10 Growing Occupations:

  1. Registered Nurse
  2. Software Developer
  3. Customer Service Representative
  4. Sales Representative
  5. Teacher
  6. Truck Driver
  7. Construction Manager
  8. Accountant
  9. Marketing Specialist
  10. Physician Assistant

10 Companies Hiring Now:

  1. CHI St. Luke’s Health System
  2. Conroe Independent School District
  3. HEB Grocery Company
  4. Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
  5. Home Depot
  6. Walmart
  7. Amazon
  8. CVS Health
  9. Walgreens Boots Alliance
  10. ExxonMobil

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