San Antonio, TX – December 2023 Jobs Report – Alamo City Sees Job Growth Despite Holiday Dip

Overview: San Antonio’s December 2023 jobs report paints a mixed picture, with overall employment down slightly from November but unemployment at a record low. While some industries experienced seasonal declines, others added jobs, contributing to a positive annual outlook.

Highlights:

• Unemployment rate: 3.1%, the lowest ever recorded for the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
• Job gains: Trade, Transportation & Utilities, Leisure & Hospitality, Professional & Business Services, Government, and Financial Activities sectors added jobs in December.
• Annual growth: Most industries saw positive year-over-year employment growth.

Industries and Occupations that Grew:

• Trade, Transportation & Utilities: This sector added the most jobs in December, likely due to holiday shopping activity.
• Leisure & Hospitality: Restaurants, hotels, and other tourism-related businesses saw a seasonal uptick.
• Professional & Business Services: This broad sector includes healthcare, education, and legal services, all of which added jobs in December.
• Government: Public sector employment remained stable.

Industries and Occupations that Shrunk:

• Construction: This industry typically experiences a slowdown during the winter months.
• Manufacturing: Job losses in this sector were relatively small.
• Other Services: This includes a variety of industries, such as personal care and laundry services, which may have seen decreased demand during the holidays.

Comparison to Same Month Last Year:

• Overall employment: Up 2.0% compared to December 2022.
• Unemployment rate: Down from 3.5% in December 2022.

Comparison to Previous Month:

• Overall employment: Down 0.6% from November 2023.
• Unemployment rate: Down from 3.2% in November 2023.

Future Outlook:

The San Antonio economy is expected to continue growing in 2024, with job opportunities available in a variety of sectors. Here are 10 occupations projected to see the highest growth in the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA:

1. Personal Care Aides
2. Registered Nurses
3. Home Health Aides
4. Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts
5. Wholesale 
6. Physician Assistants
7. Sales Representatives
8. Truck Drivers
9. Customer Service Representatives
10. Marketing Specialists

10 Companies Hiring Now:

1. USAA
2. H-E-B
3. Valero Energy Corporation
4. City of San Antonio
5. Baptist Health System
6. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
7. South Texas Blood
8. CPS Energy
9. Frost Bank
10. NXP Semiconductors

Resources:

• Workforce Solutions Alamo
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics