RGV job growth stays ahead of Texas and U.S., new data show
A job seeker speaks with a recruiter during an October job fair in Brownsville, reflecting continued hiring activity as job growth across the Rio Grande Valley outpaced state and national trends. Photo Credit | Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza

Key takeaways

  • The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro added 13,679 jobs through November 2025, an increase of 1.9% year-over-year. 
  • The Brownsville-Harlingen metro added 8,386 jobs through November 2025, an increase of 1.9% year-over-year. 
  • Job growth in the McAllen metro was driven by private education and health services, while government hiring accounted for a significant share of gains in the Brownsville metro.

The Rio Grande Valley’s two largest metro areas added more jobs through November compared to the previous year, new Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows.

The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro had 310,000 nonfarm jobs in November, up from 304,100 in November 2024. That’s a gain of 5,900 jobs, or a 1.9% increase over the year. 

The Brownsville-Harlingen metro recorded 167,800 nonfarm jobs in November, up from 164,600 in November 2024. That’s an increase of 3,200 jobs, or 1.9% year over year. 

By comparison, Texas added 146,300 jobs through November, a 1% increase. U.S. job growth rose by 0.6% in November. 

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