The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported the following data for Houston’s economy in February 2025:
- Job growth from November 2024 to February 2025 was 2.1%, indicating moderate expansion.
- The unemployment rate of 4.2% remained flat since the previous month.
- Average hourly earnings were $36.30.
- The average hourly earnings growth year over year was 5.1%.
- Revisions to 2024 employment data indicated fewer jobs last year than estimated.
- The Houston Leading Index and Houston Purchasing Manager’s Index suggest slow economic growth over the next 3-9 months compared to the previous 3 months.
Houston’s Labor Market
According to the Federal Reserve of Dallas, Houston’s job growth of 2.1%, or 18,035 jobs, for the 3 months ending in February 2025 was above its long-run trend growth. Higher than average monthly growth in December, 2.1% annualized, and January, 5.2%, was followed by weakness in February, -0.9%.
The seasonally adjusted job growth rate in financial activities grew by 2% during the 3 months ending in February 2025. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate was 0.4%.
Year over year, jobs grew by 1.5%, totaling an additional 50,953 jobs in February 2025 compared with 1 year ago. Financial activities experienced 0.4% growth, or 808 jobs.
Houston Area Economic Summary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the following economic data for the Houston area in March 2025:
- The Houston area’s unemployment rate of 4.4%, which remained unchanged from the previous 12 months, matched the national unemployment rate in January 2025. In contrast, the national average unemployment rate increased by 0.3% during the same period.
- Average weekly wages in the Houston area were $1,511, slightly higher than the $1,394 national average.
- Accountants’ and auditors’ average hourly wages in the Houston area were $45.92, slightly above the national average of $43.65.
Houston’s Accounting and Finance Job Market
Houston continues to stand out as a leading market for accounting and finance professionals, particularly as industries across the region adapt to economic shifts, regulatory changes, and emerging growth opportunities. While the city’s overall job growth has moderated, the need for skilled financial professionals remains strong, especially in core sectors like energy, healthcare, construction, and advanced manufacturing.
Employers are seeking professionals who can deliver more than just financial reporting—they need individuals who can support strategic planning, lead ESG initiatives, manage risk, and modernize financial systems. In this environment, demand is rising for talent in areas such as financial planning and analysis (FP&A), tax compliance, internal audit, and technical accounting.
What sets Houston apart is the combination of a strong corporate presence and an evolving business landscape. As companies expand their operations, embrace renewable energy, and integrate ESG standards into reporting frameworks, accounting and finance professionals play a critical role in maintaining compliance, forecasting performance, and advising leadership.
But competition for talent is fierce. With wages in Houston already outpacing national averages and labor force growth projected to continue, organizations must be prepared to offer competitive compensation and clear advancement paths to attract and retain top talent.
Hire Accounting and Finance Professionals in Houston
Whether you’re building out an FP&A team, strengthening your tax and compliance capabilities, or filling key accounting roles to support growth, UNITY can help. We specialize in identifying top-tier accounting and finance professionals who are aligned with your business needs and ready to make an impact.
Want to stay competitive in today’s labor market? Download the 2025 UNITY Salary Guide for data-driven insights on compensation trends across accounting, finance, tax, HR, and technology roles. Then contact our team to learn how UNITY can help you build a high-performing workforce that’s ready to support your business today—and into the future.
