By Dr. Tamara Patzer
Texas lost 11,100 nonfarm jobs in September, but factories went the other way. The Texas Workforce Commission said manufacturing added 4,700 positions, the largest private-sector gain of the month. For engineers and designers who work in or near those plants, a newsletter now lists contract roles in mechanical design and systems engineering with advertised pay of $40 to $120 an hour. This article covers the state numbers first and then what to verify before chasing any listing.
Key Takeaways
- The Texas Workforce Commission reported Oct. 16, 2026 that September employment fell by 11,100 jobs to 14,461,300, while the year showed a gain of 154,300 jobs.
- Manufacturing added 4,700 jobs. Professional and business services added 1,600 and information added 1,400, according to the commission.
- Government shed 5,900 jobs, private education and health services lost 4,800, and construction lost 2,400.
- The statewide unemployment rate was 4.4%, and the civilian labor force grew by 15,800 people over the month.
- The Expert Opportunity Report, a free newsletter by Tamara Patzer, lists engineering contract roles with advertised pay of $40 to $120 an hour. Most of the pages behind them could not be rechecked on Nov. 6, so availability and pay are unconfirmed.
- Advertised pay varies and changes, and a listing is not a promise of work.
What the Commission Reported for September
In a release dated Oct. 16, 2026, the Texas Workforce Commission said the state’s nonfarm employment stood at 14,461,300 in September after the 11,100-job drop. Over the year, Texas added 154,300 jobs, an annual growth rate of 1.1%, which the commission said was 0.8 percentage points above the national rate. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4%. The labor force added 15,800 people over the month.
The commission listed government as the biggest loser at 5,900 jobs. Private education and health services lost 4,800, trade, transportation and utilities lost 3,100, and construction lost 2,400. Leisure and hospitality lost 1,700, financial activities lost 1,300, and mining and logging lost 700.
The Dallas Fed reported in its September Texas dashboard that the labor market softened, with annualized job growth of 0.2% from June through September and average hourly earnings of $36.34. Fox 4 reported Oct. 21, 2026 that the Dallas Fed’s own forecast projects Texas job growth of 0.9% in 2026.
Why the Factory Gain Matters
A drop of 11,100 jobs across 14.4 million is small in percentage terms, and a swing in public payrolls can account for much of it. The more useful detail for a worker is where hiring held up. Manufacturing, professional services and information all grew in the same month that health care and construction shrank. People with design, systems and technical skills sit closest to those growing categories.
That does not mean every engineer will find an opening. Employers cut and add roles all the time, and one month of data does not set a trend.
Three Engineering Listings Worth Reading Closely
The Expert Opportunity Report published a page titled “Mechanical design and systems engineering opportunities” on Nov. 11, 2026. Its author, Tamara Patzer, labels it a watchlist, with updates on Nov. 4 and Nov. 6. She wrote that only the Nov. 6 update was revalidated, and only for the model-based systems engineering record. The original application pages were not reachable during that review.
- MBSE Engineer, SysML v2: advertised at $55 to $120 an hour, with a record dated Nov. 6. The page describes task-based contractor work with variable hours, covering reference models, requirements traceability and evaluating AI-generated models. It names SysML v1 experience plus SysML v2 exposure or hands-on work.
- Senior Mechanical Design Engineer: advertised at $40 to $90 an hour, posted Oct. 2, 2026. Skills named include design intent, parametric modeling, GD&T and tolerance judgment. The page marks it an older snapshot.
- Mechanical Design Engineer, CAD and Manufacturing: advertised at $40 to $80 an hour, posted Sept. 25, 2026. It names SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Onshape, Inventor, Creo and NX. It is also an older snapshot.
The page also carries several higher-paying leads marked unverified. This article does not cite them.
What the Page Does Not Say
- Location. No work location is given per listing. The site describes the roles as remote, but the page says that is not confirmed for any of them. Texas residents should not assume the work is in Texas.
- Experience and credentials. Only the MBSE role states requirements. Nothing is said about licensure.
- Payment terms. The page says the ranges do not guarantee selection, a particular rate or any amount of work.
- Referral link. The author says she may be paid if readers apply through links on the page and that she does not work for the companies posting the roles.
Before You Apply
- Open the posting itself. A listing that has been removed will not help you.
- Treat the hourly figure as a range. Contract work has no benefits, and you pay your own taxes.
- If you are employed, read your agreement for limits on outside work.
- Check current sources, including the Texas Workforce Commission, for the latest jobs numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Jobs Did Texas Lose in September 2026?
The Texas Workforce Commission reported a loss of 11,100 nonfarm jobs for the month, with a gain of 154,300 over the year.
Which Texas Industries Grew?
Manufacturing grew by 4,700 jobs, professional and business services by 1,600, and information by 1,400, according to the commission.
What Was the Texas Unemployment Rate?
The commission reported 4.4% for September, seasonally adjusted.
Do the Engineering Roles Pay $120 an Hour?
One listing advertises up to $120. The page says ranges are not confirmed and do not guarantee a rate or hours.
Where Can I Read the Listings?
The Expert Opportunity Report article on mechanical design and systems engineering opportunities links to each one, and the free Expert Opportunity Report publishes new roles as they appear.
About the Author
Dr. Tamara Patzer is a publisher and former newspaper editor who writes about AI and business data.
You may reach her through: info@dailysuccessinstitute.com
Sources
Texas Workforce Commission, “Texas Annual Growth Rate Outpaces Nation as Labor Force Adds 15,800,” Oct. 16, 2026.
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Texas Economic Indicators, September 2026.
Fox 4 News, “Texas employment growth drops below long-term average as 19,000 jobs shed: Dallas Fed,” Oct. 21, 2026.
Expert Opportunity Report, “Mechanical design and systems engineering opportunities,” Tamara Patzer, Nov. 11, 2026.
Disclaimer: The author publishes the Expert Opportunity Report and is a referral partner of micro1. This article is information, not a promise of work or income, and not legal, tax or financial advice. Advertised pay ranges vary and change.
