Statewide job growth continued an upward trend through the end of 2016, with year-over-year data showing an estimated 210,200 seasonally adjusted jobs gained since December 2015, according to a Texas Workforce Commission [TWC] report released today.

"Texas employers continue to boost the diverse Texas economy by adding jobs, including 210,200 over the year," TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar said in a statement. "Thanks to the innovation and efforts of employers in a range of industries, Texas workers continue to have more opportunities to demonstrate their world-class work ethic and skills."

December's data shows an addition of 800 nonfarm jobs and a maintained unemployment rate of 4.6 percent since November.

The Austin-Round Rock, Lubbock, and Amarillo Metropolitan Statistical Areas, or MSAs, recorded the month’s lowest unemployment rates among Texas MSAs with a non-seasonally adjusted rate of 3.2 percent, according to the report.

The civilian labor force in the Austin-Round Rock MSA increased by 24,700 workers between December 2015 and December 2016 but decreased by 2,200 workers from November to December of last year.

The education and health services industry recorded the largest private-industry employment gain over the month with 7,300 jobs added. Leisure and hospitality employment grew by 3,900 jobs, and the manufacturing sector added 1,400 jobs.

According to TWC Commissioner Ruth R. Hughs, private-sector employment grew by 172,600 since December 2015.

"These numbers are a testament to the perseverance and resilience of our Texas employers and the diversity of our Texas economy," she said in a statement.