Fort Worth Economic Indicators

October 29, 2026

The Fort Worth economy weakened. Employment fell in the three months ending in September, with growth mixed across sectors. Wages and retail sales tax collections increased in September. Office and industrial real estate demand was positive in third quarter of 2026.

Labor market

Employment declines in September

Fort Worth employment fell 2.3 percent in September after growing 1.6 percent in August. Texas employment declined 1.6 percent in September while employment nationally grew 0.2 percent. Employment in Fort Worth has expanded 11.4 percent since February 2020, in line with the state and outpacing the nation’s 4.4 percent increase (Chart 1).

Job growth mixed across sectors

Fort Worth payrolls declined an annualized 0.6 percent in the third quarter (Chart 2). The sectors with the fastest growth were professional and business services (2.5 percent), government (1.3 percent) and manufacturing (0.7 percent). Meanwhile employment declined in several sectors, including information (5.3 percent), leisure and hospitality (5.1 percent), and financial activities (3.6 percent). Payroll employment in Fort Worth is up an annualized 0.7 percent year to date.

Wages increase

The three-month moving average of nominal hourly wages in Fort Worth increased to $37.89 in September (Chart 3). Year over year, Fort Worth wages grew 3.8 percent in September, while wages in Texas rose 5.3 percent and wages nationally increased 3.1 percent. Earnings in Fort Worth are now in line with the nation and above the state.

Consumer spending

Retail sales tax collections, a proxy for consumption, totaled $96.1 million in Fort Worth in September. Collections were up 0.5 percent in Fort Worth and 1.7 percent in the state in September. Year-over-year sales tax collections, smoothed and seasonally adjusted, were up 6.4 percent in Fort Worth and 5.1 percent in Texas (Chart 4).

Commercial real estate

Office demand moderates

Positive momentum in office leasing continued in the third quarter. Net absorption was 40,000 square feet, slower than the previous quarter, according to data from CBRE Econometric Advisors (Chart 5). The vacancy rate was unchanged at 19.0 percent. Net asking rents in the metro increased from $22.95 per square foot to $23.06.

Industrial demand strong

Industrial leasing remained solid in the third quarter, with demand exceeding second-quarter figures. Net absorption was 10.9 million square feet, according to data from CBRE Econometric Advisors (Chart 6). The vacancy rate declined to 8.7 percent. Net asking rents in the metro increased from $8.04 per square foot to $9.72.

NOTE: Data may not match previously published numbers due to revisions.

About Fort Worth Economic Indicators

Questions or suggestions can be addressed to Jackie Balanovsky. Fort Worth Economic Indicators publishes bimonthly after state and metro employment data are released.