Trade Issues

Southwest Counties Led Job Growth After NAFTA

A year after Congress passed NAFTA, populous counties in the Southwest racked up the largest employment gains of any counties in the United States, according to U.S. Department of Commerce figures.

NAFTA was passed in January 1994. In 1995 counties in southwestern states enjoyed large percentage employment increases as well as net gains in the number of jobs:

  • The California counties of Los Angeles, Orange and Santa Clara had increases in jobs of 3.03 percent, 3.13 percent and 4.29 percent, respectively.

  • The Texas counties of Harris (Houston) and Dallas chalked up gains of 6.45 percent and 6.21 percent.

  • Phoenix's Maricopa County had a 7.93 percent increase in jobs.

  • Los Angeles, Harris, Maricopa and Dallas -- in that order -- also led U.S. counties in the number of jobs created.

According to the Commerce Department, almost half of all U.S. exports to Mexico come from Texas.

Source: Christina Duff, "Southwest Counties Led in Job Growth for 1995, the Year After NAFTA Passed," Wall Street Journal, November 13, 1997.

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