The Houston region is expected to create 71,200 jobs in the upcoming year, according to the Greater Houston Partnership's latest forecast. 

The big picture: Houston's economy is strong as we head into 2025, per GHP's chief economist Patrick Jankowski. 

• Though uncertainties remain — particularly regarding how the U.S. economy will shift with Congress and presidency changes — the local economy is on track to expand.

State of play: Houston is projected to finish 2025 with over 3.5 million employed people, marking a record high for the region, per GHP's annual Houston region economic outlook released Thursday. 

• Most Houston sectors are projected to see growth. Health care is projected to lead the way with 12,800 additional jobs, followed by construction (10,200), professional and technical services (6,900), government (5,500) and restaurants and bars (5,200).

Context: Several factors will drive next year's growth, including a strong U.S. economy, declining interest rates, rising consumer confidence and new domestic and foreign businesses setting up in Houston.

• A backlog of construction projects, along with local income and population growth, further boosts job creation prospects.

By the numbers: The region should end 2024 with 58,000 new jobs.

• Total wages and salaries paid to area workers were up $12.9 billion, or 5.1%, for the year ending June 2024 compared with the same period in 2023.
• In the first nine months of 2024, the GHP identified more than 500 companies that relocated to, expanded in or launched operations in Houston, or announced plans to do so.

Meanwhile, the Houston area saw some of the fastest economic growth among large U.S. metros last year, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

• The Houston metro area's gross domestic product increased by 5.4% from 2022 to 2023, hitting $550.8 billion last year, per the federal data.
• That was the second-highest growth rate among metro areas with a population over 1.5 million, after only Seattle.

What we're watching

New business applications hit a high water mark nationwide in 2023, with notable hot spots in the Southeast and Mountain West.

Why it matters: Small businesses are a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, employing tens of millions of Americans.

Driving the news: Americans filed nearly 5.5 million new business applications in 2023, per the U.S. Census Bureau, or about 16.3 for every 1,000 residents.

• That's up from about 5.1 million in 2022 and 3.5 million in 2018, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zoom in: Texas sits just above the national average with 16.4 new business applications in 2023 for every 1,000 residents, according to the bureau.

• Harris County had roughly 99,000 new business applications in 2023, the most in the state.

Zoom out: Wyoming (100.1), Delaware (53.4) and Florida (29.4) had the highest rates of new business applications per 1,000 residents in 2023.

• The first two are perennial new business favorites for legal and tax reasons.

Stunning stat: Nearly 85% of consumers say they'll probably shop at a small business this holiday season, a new American Express survey finds, up 11 points over the last decade.

Reality check: Filling out the paperwork for a new firm is just one step, but it's at least a sign of confidence that small business success is possible.

 ✈️ Bush Intercontinental Airport will soon open a new international arrivals curb in hopes of easing traffic congestion. (Houston Public Media)

🏭 A majority of Texas counties that failed federal air quality standards won't be reported to the EPA. (Houston Landing)

🚔 Houston police made dozens of arrests over the weekend during a targeted law enforcement initiative along Washington Avenue. (ABC13)

An exceptional Christmas light display in the heart of the Hill Country is a perfect holiday weekend adventure.

The big picture: Johnson City's 35th annual Lights Spectacular, about 200 miles from Houston, runs through Jan. 5 with thousands of lights illuminating the Pedernales Electric Cooperative campus and surrounding area from around 5:45pm until midnight each day.

• Local restaurants and shops also decorate for the holidays, so it's worth parking and walking around downtown.

Catch up quick: The Pedernales Electric Cooperative displays more than 1.6 million sparkling LED lights, which the town claims NASA can see from space. We'll let them have it.

Zoom in: The historic stone Blanco County Courthouse is draped with lights, along with surrounding shops.

• Take the family on a carriage ride or tractor hayride around the square, snap photos with Santa and check out local stores, which often stay open late for Lights Spectacular.

Where to shop