Lubbock's job market is holding steady, but paychecks here still run well behind the rest of the country, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers for the Lubbock area.
The BLS Lubbock Area Economic Summary, updated Nov. 2, 2026, shows unemployment unchanged from a year ago, modest job growth and average wages far below the national level. The figures are not seasonally adjusted and may be revised.
Unemployment Flat While the Nation's Falls
The Lubbock area's unemployment rate was 3.7% in September, the same as a year earlier. Nationally, the rate fell from 4.3% to 4.0%, narrowing the gap between Lubbock and the U.S. to 0.3 points. Lubbock County ticked up from 3.6% to 3.7%. Hockley County improved from 4.1% to 3.9%, and Lynn County edged down to 3.4%. Garza County was the highest in the area at 5.0%, up from 4.9%.
Area | Sep. 2025 | Sep. 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
United States | 4.3% | 4.0% | -0.3 |
Lubbock area | 3.7% | 3.7% | 0.0 |
Lubbock County | 3.6% | 3.7% | +0.1 |
Hockley County | 4.1% | 3.9% | -0.2 |
Lynn County | 3.5% | 3.4% | -0.1 |
Garza County | 4.9% | 5.0% | +0.1 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
About 1,200 Jobs Added in a Year
Total nonfarm employment in the Lubbock area reached 175,700 in September, up 0.7% from a year earlier. Professional and business services (+3.4%) and government (+1.2%) each added about 500 jobs, and education and health services added about 300. Three sectors shrank by about 100 jobs each: trade, transportation and utilities, financial activities, and information. Information fell the most in percentage terms (-5.9%), but it is also the smallest sector, at 1,600 jobs.
Sector | Jobs, Sep. 2026 | Change from Sep. 2025 | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
Professional and business services | 15,100 | +500 | +3.4% |
Government | 40,800 | +500 | +1.2% |
Education and health services | 26,100 | +300 | +1.2% |
Manufacturing | 5,600 | +100 | +1.8% |
Leisure and hospitality | 24,000 | +100 | +0.4% |
Mining, logging and construction | 11,800 | 0 | 0.0% |
Other services | 7,400 | 0 | 0.0% |
Trade, transportation and utilities | 34,900 | -100 | -0.3% |
Information | 1,600 | -100 | -5.9% |
Financial activities | 8,400 | -100 | -1.2% |
Total nonfarm | 175,700 | +1,200 | +0.7% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics. BLS reports job changes to the nearest hundred, so sector changes may not sum exactly to the total.
Where Lubbock Lags: Pay
The average weekly wage across the Lubbock area was $1,140 in the first quarter of 2026, compared with $1,654 nationally. That puts the area at roughly 69% of the U.S. figure. Of the six counties, only Hockley County, at $1,517, comes close to the national level. Lubbock County averaged $1,120, and Crosby County was the lowest at $915. Each full block below equals about 5% of the U.S. weekly wage.
County | Average weekly wage | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|
United States | $1,654 | ████████████████████ 100% |
Hockley County | $1,517 | ██████████████████ 92% |
Lynn County | $1,258 | ███████████████ 76% |
Cochran County | $1,195 | ██████████████ 72% |
Lubbock area | $1,140 | ██████████████ 69% |
Lubbock County | $1,120 | ██████████████ 68% |
Garza County | $989 | ████████████ 60% |
Crosby County | $915 | ███████████ 55% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, first quarter 2026.
Hourly pay tells the same story. Across all occupations, workers in the Lubbock area averaged $25.89 an hour in May 2025, against $33.54 nationally. Every occupation BLS listed paid less here. Licensed practical and vocational nurses averaged $27.94 an hour, versus $32.24 nationally, and fast food and counter workers averaged $12.19, versus $15.46.
Occupation (May 2025) | Lubbock area | United States | Lubbock as % of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
All occupations | $25.89 | $33.54 | 77% |
Education administrators, postsecondary | $54.56 | $60.84 | 90% |
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers | $29.50 | $35.33 | 83% |
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $27.94 | $32.24 | 87% |
Office clerks, general | $18.31 | $22.32 | 82% |
Amusement and recreation attendants | $13.48 | $15.69 | 86% |
Fast food and counter workers | $12.19 | $15.46 | 79% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Percentages calculated from BLS figures.
Prices and Benefits
BLS tracks prices and benefits for the broader West South Central region, which includes Texas, rather than for Lubbock alone. Consumer prices there rose 3.0% over the year ending in September, below the 3.7% national rate. Energy was the exception, with prices up 19.7% in the region and 20.4% nationally. Employer benefits also run lower in the region: total compensation for private-industry workers averaged $40.84 an hour in June, compared with $46.89 nationwide.
Read More: The Source Data
From: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lubbock Area Economic Summary, updated Nov. 2, 2026. Data are not seasonally adjusted and may be revised. The Chronicle will update these figures monthly.
