Job losses in the early stages of the pandemic were worse than first reported. The recovery has not progressed as far as once thought. For industries struggling prior to the shutdown, COVID-19 made things worse. And a full recovery is likely several years away.

Those are the conclusions from the Partnership’s analysis of the recent revisions to the employment data for ’19 and ’20. Earlier data came from employer surveys, 和所有调查一样, 结果以抽样为准, 处理, 方法论错误. The revisions are based on administrative records, specifically data from the state’s unemployment insurance system, and thus reflect a more accurate picture of the pandemic’s impact.

Metro Houston lost 361,400 jobs in March and April, 11,200 more than first reported. That exceeds the combined job losses from the ’80s oil bust (226,100分)和大衰退(120分),500). 

The pandemic destroyed four years of growth, all the gains made since the end of the Fracking Bust. Total payroll employment stood at 2,947,800 in January of ’21, roughly the same level as January ’17.

TWC reports employment data for 70 sectors and sub-sectors in metro Houston. All but three reported losses in the early stages of the pandemic.  Hiring jumped at food and beverage stores as consumers stockpiled nonperishables. Hardware stores added to their staff as residents tackled long-delayed home improvement projects. Consumers found they could purchase sweatpants, 瓶装水, toilet paper and board games all in one store. General merchandise stores hired additional checkers and stockers to handle the surge in demand.

Four sectors accounted for over half the pandemic job losses: health care, 其他服务, 餐馆和酒吧, 和零售. All suffered under government mandates that shut them down or restricted their operations early in the pandemic. 他们总共失去了207,400个工作岗位. All benefited from the lifting of government mandates. At present, this group has recouped two-thirds of its losses (137,900 jobs). These sectors aren’t holding back the recovery. 

Three subsectors have recouped all their losses: insurance, 计算机系统与设计, 运输和仓储. The first two lost only a few jobs and recovered quickly. 

TWC doesn’t provide enough detail to determine where the gains in transportation and warehousing came from. The agency publishes nothing on waterborne and rail transportation. The available data on airlines, pipelines, and trucking show those sectors are struggling. The pandemic saw a surge in online shopping, which placed a greater demand on package delivery services. And the region grew as a distribution hub, absorbing more than 14 million square feet of warehouse space. Presumably, the job gains in transportation are in these areas.

Note: The geographic area referred to in this publication as “Houston,” "Houston Area” and “Metro Houston” is the nine-county Census designated metropolitan statistical area of Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX. 这九个县是:奥斯汀, Brazoria, 钱伯斯, 本德堡, 加尔维斯顿, 哈里斯, 自由, 蒙哥马利和沃勒.

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