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 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSA, recorded a non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.3 percent in December 2016, up from 4.6 percent in December 2015, according to the report. Unemployment also increased between November and December of last year. The civilian labor force in the area grew by 49,000 workers year over 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.