- Dallas-Plano-Irving ranked #12 nationally for job creation in July 2025, its weakest annual job gain since 2010 when excluding pandemic years.
- Job losses in manufacturing and professional/business services—particularly in computer systems design and administrative support—dragged down local growth.
- Nationally, job creation remained strong, with New York, Philadelphia, and Houston leading the country in total employment gains.
A Rare Setback for Dallas
For only the second time since the post-pandemic recovery, Dallas-Plano-Irving failed to land among the top 10 US markets for job creation. The metro added 22,200 jobs in the year ending July 2025, ranking #12 nationally, according to RealPage data. That represents Dallas’ lowest annual gain since August 2010, when the country was emerging from the Great Recession.
If neighboring Fort Worth is included, however, the combined D/FW market would place fourth nationally, behind Houston.
Job Losses Weigh on Growth
Two major employment sectors pushed Dallas out of the top tier:
- Manufacturing: down roughly 3,700 jobs over the past year.
- Professional and Business Services: down 8,200 jobs, especially in computer systems design and administrative support.
Several large employers, including IBM, FedEx, Allied Aviation Fueling, and TT Electronics, have announced layoffs or slowed hiring amid economic uncertainty. Growth in construction, financial activities, and other services also moderated compared to prior years.
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National Job Creation Leaders
Despite Dallas’ slowdown, other major markets showed strong momentum:
- New York led with 129,800 new jobs, more than 30,000 higher than June.
- Philadelphia and Houston posted strong gains with 65,300 and 62,600 jobs, respectively—Houston doubling its pace from last month.
- Charlotte and Los Angeles both added more than 32,000 jobs, while San Antonio and Phoenix jumped into the top 10 with around 28,500 new jobs each.
- Chicago and Detroit tied with 26,800 jobs, while Orlando slipped to #10 at 26,700.
Altogether, the top 10 markets added 467,100 jobs in the year-ending July—69% more than a year earlier.
Job Growth Hotspots
When measured by percentage growth, smaller markets continued to dominate:
- Myrtle Beach, SC led with the fastest growth rate, up 500 basis points year-over-year.
- College towns like College Station, TX, Fayetteville, AR, and Charleston-North Charleston, SC remained in the top four.
- Boise, ID and Columbia, SC tied for #5 with 3.3% growth.
- Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, Salem, OR, Charlotte, NC, and Albuquerque, NM rounded out the top 10.
Overall, 86 US markets grew faster than the national average of 0.9%.
Why It Matters
Dallas’ slip underscores how dependent even high-growth metros are on the health of a few key industries. While the broader US job market remains resilient, headwinds in technology, professional services, and manufacturing are weighing on once-reliable leaders.
If current trends hold, expect more regional reshuffling on job growth rankings as smaller and more diversified markets continue to gain ground.
