Dallas-Fort Worth unemployment eased to 3.8 percent in April 2026, down from 4.2 percent in January, and Professional and Business Services again added more jobs than any other metro sector. After a long stretch of slowing growth, the data points to a market that has turned the corner.
Welcome to June. I can’t believe we’re halfway through 2026. Five months in, I told you Dallas-Fort Worth was showing its first real signs of stabilization, and the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data supports that. The metro rate eased from 4.1 percent in February to 3.9 percent in March and 3.8 percent in April, and it sits about 0.3 point above where it was a year ago. Two months ago, I wanted one more round of data before calling it, and I’m now comfortable saying this market has found its footing.
How is Dallas-Fort Worth hiring trending in 2026?
Here is the running picture across the releases I track. The newest reading, for April 2026, shows 21,900 jobs added year-over-year, a slight step down from February’s 24,200.
| 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% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dallas-Fort Worth Area Economic Summary and metropolitan employment data.
Growth has settled into a modest range near half a percent after the swings of late 2025 and early 2026. Even at this slower pace, Dallas-Fort Worth continued to add jobs faster than the nation, according to BLS.
Which Dallas-Fort Worth sectors are hiring, and which aren’t?
The April sector detail shows where the growth concentrated. Five of the 10 major sectors added jobs over the year, led decisively by Professional and Business Services.
The growth leaders, year-over-year through April 2026:
- Professional and Business Services added 15,500 jobs, up 2.0 percent, the largest and fastest gain in the metro.
- Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 6,700 jobs, up 0.8 percent, swinging back to growth after contracting earlier in the year.
- Government added 5,000 jobs, up 1.0 percent.
- Mining, Logging, and Construction added 3,100 jobs, up 1.2 percent.
Professional and Business Services matters most to the employers I work with. This sector houses accounting, finance, administrative, and many executive roles, and it has led the metro’s job gains for several months running.
The declines are concentrated in a few sectors:
- Manufacturing lost 4,900 jobs, down 1.6 percent, the largest job loss in the metro.
- Financial Activities lost 2,600 jobs, down 0.7 percent.
- Information lost 1,800 jobs, down 2.1 percent, the steepest percentage drop.
Leisure and Hospitality also slipped slightly after a strong winter, a reminder that month-to-month sector swings are normal in this market.
What is the unemployment rate across the metro?
The unemployment rate has come down from its winter peak. After reaching 4.2 percent in January, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro rate eased to 4.1 percent in February, 3.9 percent in March, and 3.8 percent in April 2026.
| Area | Feb 2026 | Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth metro | 4.1% | 3.9% | 3.8% |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving | 4.2% | 3.9% | 3.8% |
| Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine | 4.1% | 3.8% | 3.7% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, metropolitan area data; not seasonally adjusted.
The Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine division, at 3.7 percent in April, runs slightly tighter than Dallas-Plano-Irving at 3.8 percent. The metro rate sits below the national figure of 4.0 percent, though it’s up about 0.3 point from April 2025, so the market is modestly looser than it was a year ago.
The most recent county-level readings, for April 2026, show where the labor market is tightest:
- Denton County: 3.6 percent, the tightest of the four.
- Collin County: 3.8 percent.
- Tarrant County: 3.8 percent.
- Dallas County: 3.9 percent, the most candidate availability.
The spread is narrow, so your sourcing strategy turns on small margins. Dallas County offers the most availability, while Denton and the Fort Worth corridor remain the tightest.
What does this mean for Dallas businesses hiring right now?
Three things to weigh as you plan the next two quarters:
- White-collar hiring is your clearest opportunity and your tightest market. Professional and Business Services has led for months. If you’re hiring accounting, finance, or administrative talent, expect competition and move quickly on strong candidates.
- The spring dip in unemployment narrows your window. The metro rate has fallen for three straight months. The extra availability that opened up over the past year is still there, though it’s thinner now.
- Read the mixed sector signals. Trade and transportation swung back to growth while manufacturing and information kept shrinking. Match your hiring expectations to your specific sector.
Should Dallas employers hire now or wait?
Dallas-Fort Worth is growing steadily, near half a percent a year, with Professional and Business Services doing most of the lifting and unemployment easing into spring. Consumer prices rose 3.0 percent over the 12 months ending March 2026, so factor that into what you offer. The extra candidate availability that opened up over the past year is still on the table, though it’s narrowing, and the accounting, finance, and administrative roles you deferred are getting harder to fill.
Are you adjusting your hiring plans as the Dallas-Fort Worth market firms up, 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.
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Amy Linn, PrideStaff Dallas Strategic Partner
alinn@pridestaff.com
(972) 661.1616