Did you know that Texas was responsible for 19.4 percent of the total jobs created nationwide from September 2010 to September 2011, according to the Real Estate Center's latest Monthly Review of the Texas Economy?

Texas posted a gain 248,800 nonfarm jobs during the period, which equates to an annual growth rate of 2.4 percent compared with 1.1 percent for the United States.

The state’s private sector added 281,400 jobs, an annual growth rate of 3.3 percent compared with 1.7 percent for the nation’s private sector.

All industries except the information industry and the state’s government sector added more jobs in September 2011 than in September 2010. The state’s mining and logging industry ranked first in job creation, followed by construction and the professional and business services industry.

All Texas metro areas except Abilene, Wichita Falls and Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood had more jobs in September 2011 than in September 2010. Victoria ranked first in job creation, followed by Corpus Christi, Laredo, Odessa and College Station-Bryan.

I just saw a video from RISMedia mentioning Waco and Midland as bright recovery spots.  Both of these Texas towns are pretty small and less talked about compared to the BIG 4 – Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio -- The Texaplex as creator, David Winans calls it. By the way, if you have not seen the video, watch it.  It’s worth every 7 minutes.

The state’s actual unemployment rate in September 2011 was 8.4 percent. Midland had the lowest rate followed by Amarillo, Odessa, College Station-Bryan and Lubbock.

The report was written by Research Economist Dr. Ali Anari and Chief Economist Dr. Mark Dotzour.