Jobless rate in the Dallas-Plano-Irving area fell to 4.1% in September as 16,800 more residents were working

Unemployment in the part of North Texas that includes Allen dropped in September, according to labor force estimates the Texas Workforce Commission released Friday, Oct. 16.

The Dallas-Plano-Irving metropolitan division, one of the two divisions whose figures add up to the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area in the commission's table, had a jobless rate of 4.1%. That was down from 4.4% in August and from 4.2% in September 2025. The commission reports these local rates without seasonal adjustment.

By the numbers

The commission's table, which reports figures in thousands, shows:

| | Sept. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sept. 2025 | |---|---|---|---| | Labor force | 3,144,900 | 3,136,700 | 3,137,900 | | Employed | 3,014,700 | 2,997,900 | 3,005,500 | | Unemployed | 130,300 | 138,800 | 132,300 | | Rate | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.2% |

From August to September, the division added about 16,800 employed residents while the count of people out of work and looking fell by about 8,500.

Around the region and state

The Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine division also came in at 4.1%, so the full Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area was at 4.1% as well. Statewide, the unadjusted rate was 4.3%, and the national rate was 4.0%.

Midland had the lowest rate among Texas metro areas at 3.2%. Eagle Pass, at 6.2%, had the highest.

The commission's seasonally adjusted rate for Texas was 4.4%. The state lost 11,100 nonfarm jobs from August to September but had 154,300 more than a year earlier, which the commission said was a 1.1% annual growth rate, ahead of the nation's. Manufacturing added 4,700 jobs over the month, more than any other private industry.

The estimates are produced with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and can be revised. The commission's next monthly labor market release is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20.

Sources

State of Texas