Houston MSA

Austin County holds the lowest unemployment rate in the Houston MSA—4.1%—according to the latest ALEX Intelligence report. This isn’t just a number; it’s a signal of where economic strength is concentrated. With Harris County at 4.6%, the gap reveals a growing divergence between urban and suburban labor markets. Austin County’s stability, driven by diversified employment and lower cost of living, is shaping where builders are investing and where new households are choosing to settle. This data is drawn directly from the ALEX Intelligence dataset published on November 15, 2026: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-15-houston-msa-lab-bls-unemp-rate-county. What does this mean for your investment or relocation strategy? How is your local labor market aligning with housing demand? county unemployment rate (September 2026), top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2026) #1 Austin County — 4.1% #2 Montgomery County — 4.3% #3 Fort Bend County — 4.5% #4 Galveston County — 4.6% #5 Harris County — 4.6% #6 Brazoria County — 4.8% #7 Chambers County — 4.9% #8 Waller County — 5.1% #9 San Jacinto County — 5.3% #10 Liberty County — 5.5% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Jason Reina (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=112970300; Slide 2: Jim Evans (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=20238769; Slide 3: Jim Evans (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=99505754; Slide 4: Farragutful (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=129077909 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-15-houston-msa-lab-bls-unemp-rate-county View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902