Dallas-Fort Worth added 24,700 jobs over the year through May 2026, a 0.6% gain, and Professional and Business Services led every other sector, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. After the sharp swings of late 2025 and early 2026, the metro’s job growth has settled into a steady groove. Even at this measured pace, Dallas-Fort Worth kept adding jobs faster than the nation.
Welcome to July. I’ve spent 25-plus years watching this market, and the story right now is consistency. Last month I told you Dallas-Fort Worth had found its footing. This month’s data backs that up.
How is Dallas-Fort Worth hiring trending in 2026?
Here’s the running picture across the releases I track. The newest reading, for May 2026, shows a slight step up from April.
| Month Published | Data Period | YoY Jobs Added | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | Jan 2025 YoY | 56,100 | 1.3% |
| May 2025 | Mar 2025 YoY | 46,800 | 1.1% |
| August 2025 | Jun 2025 YoY | 43,600 | 1.0% |
| September 2025 | Jul 2025 YoY | 43,300 | 1.0% |
| February 2026 | Nov 2025 YoY | 18,500 | 0.4% |
| April 2026 | Dec 2025 YoY | 14,200 | 0.3% |
| May 2026 | Jan 2026 YoY | 41,900 | 1.0% |
| May 2026 | Feb 2026 YoY | 24,200 | 0.6% |
| June 2026 | Apr 2026 YoY | 21,900 | 0.5% |
| July 2026 | May 2026 YoY | 24,700 | 0.6% |
Growth has held in the range near half a percent. That’s a world away from the 1.3% pace of early 2025, but it’s stable and positive.
Which Dallas-Fort Worth sectors are hiring, and which aren’t?
7 of the 10 major sectors added jobs over the year through May 2026, led decisively by Professional and Business Services.
The growth leaders:
- Professional and Business Services added 10,900 jobs, up 1.4%.
- Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 9,100 jobs, up 1.0%.
- Government added 5,600 jobs, up 1.1%.
- Mining, Logging, and Construction added 4,100 jobs, up 1.5%.
Professional and Business Services matter most to the employers I serve. It’s home to accounting, finance, administrative, and executive roles, and it has led the metro’s gains for months running.
The declines stayed concentrated in a few sectors:
- Manufacturing lost 3,600 jobs, down 1.1%, the largest job loss in the metro.
- Financial Activities lost 2,900 jobs, down 0.7%.
- Information lost 2,300 jobs, down 2.6%, the steepest percentage decline.
What is the unemployment rate across the metro?
The Dallas-Fort Worth metro unemployment rate was 4.0% in May 2026, up from 3.8% in April and 3.7% a year ago. Part of that monthly move is seasonal. The metro rate rose the same way into last summer before easing later in the year. It still sits just under the national rate of 4.1%.
County-level rates for May 2026 show where the market is tightest:
- Denton County: 3.8%, the tightest of the four.
- Collin County: 4.0%
- Tarrant County: 4.0%
- Dallas County: 4.2%, the most candidate availability.
The spread is narrow, so your sourcing strategy turns on small margins. Dallas County offers the most availability, while Denton stays the tightest.
What does this mean for Dallas businesses hiring right now?
Three things to weigh this summer:
- White-collar hiring stays competitive. Professional and Business Services has led for months. If you’re filling accounting, finance, or administrative roles, move fast on strong candidates.
- A little more slack has opened up. The seasonal rise in unemployment gives you modestly more availability than you had in spring. Put it to work before it tightens again.
- Costs are working in your favor. Consumer prices in Dallas-Fort Worth rose just 2.6% over the 12 months ending May 2026, well below the 4.2% national pace.
How is AI reshaping white-collar hiring?
One national shift belongs alongside the local numbers. Across the US, AI-related job postings rose about 95% in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier, while overall postings fell 16%, according to TalentNeuron data cited by ManpowerGroup and reported by Staffing Industry Analysts. The skills employers want are shifting faster than the job counts show.
That reaches your desk two ways. Dallas-Fort Worth’s accounting, finance, and administrative openings increasingly favor people comfortable working with AI tools. And as AI makes applications easier to generate and harder to verify, telling a genuine fit from a polished resume takes more judgment than before.
Ready to fill your accounting and finance roles before the window narrows?
Dallas-Fort Worth is growing steadily near half a percent a year, with Professional and Business Services doing most of the growth. Job growth firmed slightly this month, and a seasonal bump in unemployment opens a small window of candidate availability heading into summer. That window favors employers who move now.
Are you moving on those accounting and administrative hires now, or holding for another month of data?
With over 25 years in the Dallas market, we’ve seen nearly all types of employment markets. Tell us the accounting or finance role you’re trying to fill, and we’ll get to work on it.
Amy Linn, PrideStaff Dallas Strategic Partner
alinn@pridestaff.com
(972) 661.1616