According to a report by the Greater Houston Partnership, the city of Houston will create close to 29,700 new jobs this year. While still lower than job growth rates in 2014, Houston’s economic downturn is slowly reversing course, with the price of oil climbing back up. Compared to many other large cities in the country, Houston is doing relatively well; for example, when oil prices dropped and job creation slowed from 2014 into 2016, Houston’s unemployment rate remained steady, just shy of 6%. In addition, the city witnessed growth in industries such as health care and hospitality. In general, analysts agree that though Houston underwent a slowdown in job growth, it is currently in the recovery stage; with job growth projected to pick-up during the next few years. Here is a summary of the three industries that added the most jobs from January 2016 to January 2017.
Government
Government accounted for the largest job creation in the city during the 2016–2017 period, adding 12,800 jobs. The greatest concentration has been in local government agencies, with education-related activities making up the largest portion. Working for a public sector agency has its advantages; while salaries may be lower than private sector businesses, government jobs offer good benefits and good working hours. In addition, many government jobs can provide skills development that become transferrable to other positions. To learn more about working with government in Houston, check out the following resources:
- City of Houston Government Jobs, (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/houston). A general listing of jobs in the City of Houston.
- Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), (http://www.twc.state.tx.us/jobseekers/websites-texas-state-agencies-state-funded-institutions). TWC provides resources on the job application process and a list of all agencies and state-funded institutions in the state of Texas.
- Houston Independent School District (HISD), (https://www.applitrack.com/houstonisd/onlineapp/). If you are interested in teaching, check out HISD’s website for vacancies. To learn more about the teaching certification process, visit the Select Center’s resources page, http://www.selectcenter.org/resources/.
Health Care
Houston is well-known for its healthcare industry since it boasts some of the best hospitals on the national and global level. This industry has not been impacted by the slow-down in other areas of the economy and in fact, has been accredited by many for helping keep Houston’s economy afloat. In 2015–2016 alone, the health care industry added over 25,000 jobs, with relatively new areas such as biotechnology helping to expand job opportunities. Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical center in the world, is home to over 50,000 students, while more than 8 million patients seek treatment at TMC annually. To learn more about the health care industry in Houston, check out the Select Center’s resources page, http://www.selectcenter.org/resources/, for preliminary guidelines about medical career paths for select health care positions. If you’re interested in working in the health care industry, here are some helpful resources:
- Texas Medical Center (TMC) Careers (https://careers.texasmedicalcenter.org/careers). TMC’s Careers page provides a centralized directory of jobs available in TMC affiliated institutions. You can filter by organization, location, or keyword. Note that you should also check out the webpages of affiliated organizations for more information. Some organizations in TMC include:
- Houston Methodist Hospital, (https://www.houstonmethodistcareers.org/), note that Houston Methodist holds hiring events frequently. Check their website for more information.
- Memorial Hermann Houston, (http://www.memorialhermann.org/careers/), like Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann holds hiring and information events for prospective employees. Check their website for additional information.
- Baylor College of Medicine, (https://www.bcm.edu/careers)
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, (https://www.mdanderson.org/about-md-anderson/careers/career-opportunities.html), MD Anderson is the leading cancer hospital in the world.
- University of Texas Houston (UT) Health Science Center, (https://jobs.uth.tmc.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/Welcome_css.jsp)
- Harris Health Systems (HHS), (https://www.harrishealth.org/en/careers/pages/default.aspx). HHS is a network of hospitals affiliated with primary care clinics. There is overlap between the facilities they cover and those of the TMC.
Hospitality, Accommodation, Food Service
Houston’s hospitality industry added 10,300 jobs between January 2016 and January 2017, while the food service industry added 8,200 jobs. Growth in other industries, such as health care and education, are expected to continue supporting increases in Houston’s hospitality and food service industries. If you’re interested in pursuing a direction in food service, be sure to confirm whether you are required to complete a food handler certification. For more information about food handler training programs, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services, http://www.dshs.texas.gov/food-handlers/default.aspx. To learn more about hospitality, accommodation and food service opportunities, check out the following resources:
- Hospitality Online, (http://www.hospitalityonline.com/). A website with hospitality jobs.
- HCareers, (https://www.hcareers.com/). Another website with hospitality jobs.
- National Restaurant Association, (http://www.restaurant.org/Restaurant-Careers). The National Restaurant Association’s website provides information about careers in the restaurant business. Be sure to check out specific requirements or certifications for the State of Texas.
- Greater Houston Restaurant Association (GHRA), (http://ghra.com/). The GHRA is a chapter of the TRA and a good resource for learning more about the Houston Restaurant Industry.
- Poached, (https://www.txrestaurant.org/job-board). Poached is a website run by the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) with jobs in the food service industry.
Houston is constantly growing and many industries are adding jobs in several sectors. Oil and gas is projected to do better this year, though it is unlikely to regain its previous growth. Nonetheless, other areas, including trade and administrative/office support are also growing. To learn more about employment projections in the Houston area, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest/news-release/areaemployment_houston.htm for a comprehensive report. Good luck!
