Fort Worth-Arlington Unemployment Falls to 4.3% in August as Construction and Hospitality Grow

ARLINGTON, TX — The summer jobless bump is easing on the west side of the Metroplex. Unemployment in the Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine metro division fell to 4.3% in August, down from 4.6% in both June and July, according to preliminary federal data. Payrolls are up 1.5% from a year ago, and the gains are landing in three places job seekers in Arlington can act on: business services, construction and hospitality.

The August numbers show where the Fort Worth-Arlington job market is adding work, where it is shedding it, and which searches are worth your time this fall.

Ready to search? Jump straight to the job links for the sectors that are growing →

Fort Worth-Arlington Unemployment Rate: What August Showed

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the metro division's August unemployment rate at 4.3%. That is the first drop since spring. The rate sat at 3.7% in April, climbed to 4.0% in May and held at 4.6% through June and July.

Some of that summer climb is the calendar. These figures are not seasonally adjusted, and summer brings graduates into the hunt while school staff come off payrolls. Government jobs in the division dipped to 132,000 in July and bounced back to 136,000 in August as classrooms reopened.

The labor force kept growing anyway, to about 1,466,500 people in August. That is roughly 20,000 more than in March. Employment rose by about 5,600 from July to August, to roughly 1,402,800 working residents. August figures are preliminary and will be revised.

💼 Where the Jobs Grew Over the Past Year

Total nonfarm employment reached about 1,222,100 jobs in August, up 1.5% from a year earlier. Three sectors did most of the lifting:

Professional and business services: up 5.0%, to about 159,300 jobs. That covers staffing, office support, engineering and security contractors.
Mining, logging and construction: up 4.8%, to about 92,100.
Leisure and hospitality: up 4.4%, to about 145,500. The Entertainment District's stadiums and hotels keep that work busy.

Trade, transportation and utilities is still the biggest employer group at about 289,300 jobs, but it grew only 0.6% over the year. Education and health services rose 0.7%. Manufacturing was flat at about 110,000 jobs, even with GM's assembly plant off Highway 360 still building SUVs.

⚠️ Where It Slipped

Four sectors are smaller than a year ago. Financial activities fell 2.0%, to about 76,600 jobs. Information fell 1.8%, to about 11,200. Other services, which covers repair shops, salons and membership groups, fell 0.9%, and government fell 0.6%. Coming out of banking or mortgage work? Look at adjacent roles in business services, where hiring is moving.

How Arlington Compares With the Rest of Texas

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reports that the statewide unemployment rate fell to 4.4% in August and that the Fort Worth-Arlington rate also declined. The Dallas Fed now forecasts 1.2% job growth for Texas in 2026. Dallas Fed senior business economist Luis Torres noted that year-to-date job growth of 1.0% is below the state's long-run average of 2%. The market is still adding jobs, just more slowly, so a tailored resume matters.

🔎 Where to Aim This Fall

Follow the growth: trades, hospitality and business services first, with at least one application in a steadier field like health care.

Start here:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the unemployment rate in Arlington, TX?

Arlington is counted inside the Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine metro division, where the preliminary August 2026 rate was 4.3%, not seasonally adjusted. That figure is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and will be revised.

Is unemployment going up or down in Fort Worth-Arlington?

Down in August. The rate fell from 4.6% in July to 4.3%. It is still above the 3.7% recorded in April, and part of the summer rise was the usual seasonal swing.

Which industries are hiring the most around Fort Worth-Arlington?

Over the past year, professional and business services grew 5.0%, mining, logging and construction grew 4.8%, and leisure and hospitality grew 4.4%. Those are the fastest-growing sectors in the metro division.

Which industries are losing jobs?

Financial activities, information, other services and government all employed fewer people in August than a year earlier, with financial activities down the most at 2.0%.

Turn the Numbers Into an Offer

Create your free LocalJobPage account and set alerts for Arlington openings, then browse the Career Center for role-by-role guides on pay and requirements.

Employers: competing for trades, hospitality or office talent in the Mid-Cities? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach Arlington job seekers who are already searching.