Leisure and hospitality industry employment in metro Houston stood at 347,200 jobs in November 2023, up 1% compared to November 2022.

The sector accounts for just over 10% of the region’s 3.4 million nonfarm jobs. Total nonfarm employment is up 2% over the same period a year ago.

Leisure and hospitality—which includes accommodation and food services as well as arts, entertainment, and recreation—has increased its job count about 4% or 13,000 jobs since 2019, the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roughly 7% of the total jobs in the sector are currently open, the same open rate as total nonfarm jobs in the region. That’s down from a peak of nearly 10% in December 2022 but still above pre-pandemic openings, suggesting a continued industry labor shortage.

Among major Texas metros, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has increased leisure and hospitality employment by 3% over the last year, Austin-Round Rock has lost about 2% of its sector jobs, and San Antonio has added about 2%. Statewide, sector employment is up 1% year over year.

Written by A.J. Mistretta

pictured: Rothko Chapel