Overview
The January 2024 jobs report for San Antonio indicates a positive start to the new year, with growth across several sectors. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%, reflecting a balanced labor market.
Highlights
- The healthcare and construction industries led the job gains in January.
- Professional and business services, as well as trade, transportation, and utilities, also saw an uptick in hiring.
- Leisure and hospitality continued its recovery trend, adding jobs compared to January 2023.
- Manufacturing and government sectors showed slight job losses.
What Industries and Occupations Grew
- Healthcare: Hospitals, ambulatory healthcare services, and nursing care facilities added a significant number of jobs in January. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing assistants were in high demand.
- Construction: Residential and nonresidential building projects fueled job growth in this sector. Construction laborers, carpenters, and electricians were among the occupations with the most openings.
- Professional and Business Services: This broad category included growth in areas like accounting, management, and computer and mathematical occupations.
What Industries and Occupations Shrank
- Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector shed a small number of jobs in January. This could be due to factors like automation or supply chain disruptions.
- Government: Job losses in government were concentrated in local government positions.
Compare to Same Month Last Year
San Antonio’s job market has grown steadily compared to January 2023. The unemployment rate is down from 4.7% a year ago, indicating a tighter labor market. The leisure and hospitality sector, particularly hard-hit during the pandemic, has shown significant improvement.
Compare to Previous Month
Job growth in San Antonio accelerated slightly from December 2023. The healthcare and construction sectors continued their upward trend, while professional and business services added new jobs compared to the previous month.
Future Outlook
The San Antonio job market is expected to remain positive in the coming months. The healthcare industry is projected to continue adding jobs due to an aging population and increasing demand for medical services. Construction activity is also expected to stay strong, fueled by residential development and infrastructure projects.
10 Growing Occupations
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the following occupations are projected to have the fastest employment growth in San Antonio through 2032 [http://bls.org]:
- Home health aides and personal care aides
- Registered nurses
- Licensed practical nurses
- Solar panel installers
- Wind turbine service technicians
- Construction laborers
- Medical assistants
- Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Elevator installers and repairers
- Software developers, applications
10 Companies Hiring Now
Here are a few examples:
- USAA – Financial services
- H-E-B – Grocery stores
- Baptist Health System – Healthcare
- Valero Energy Corporation – Energy
- City of San Antonio – Government
- Wells Fargo – Financial services
- San Antonio Independent School District – Education
- Boeing – Aerospace
- Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union – Financial services
- NRF Corporation – Retail
Sources