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Metro Houston created 72,600 jobs, a 2.4 percent increase, in the 12 months ending February ’19, according to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). That compares with 56,400 jobs created in the 12 months ending February ’18, a 1.9 percent increase.

Highlights from today’s report:

• The five sectors adding the most jobs over the past 12 months were durable goods manufacturing (15,200); professional, scientific and technical services (12,800); health care (10,300); other services (6,600); and wholesale trade (4,500).
• Employment decreased in a few sectors, the greatest losses occurring in retail (-4,600); employment services (-2,600); and restaurants and bars (-1,200).
• In energy, exploration and production lost 300 jobs while oil field series added 3,600.

Houston’s unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in February, 4.5 percent in January, and 4.7 percent in February ’18. The rate peaked at 5.8 percent in January ’17 and has trended down since.