Houston jobs numbers increase

As many analysts have pointed to jobs as the catalyst for an improved housing market, a new report from the Texas Workforce Commission finds that the Houston real estate market should continue to outperform the rest of the country.

According to the report, the state added 20,000 more jobs in December - the fourth consecutive monthly gain - with an increase of more than 230,000 jobs since December 2009.

"The annual job growth rate in Texas has steadily risen every month during the past 12 months and now stands at 2.3 percent for December," said TWC chairman Tom Pauken. "At the same time, Texas employers added jobs and our state ended the year with an increase of 218,200 jobs since January."

Houston's unemployment rate fell from 8.6 percent in November to 8.3 percent in December. The statewide jobless rate was just 8 percent.

The strong state economy has helped home prices in Texas remain strong in recent months, compared to sliding national prices. While the state has an 8 percent jobless rate, the U.S. as a whole has 9.1 percent of the population out of work.