Texas's Deregulation Strategy Fuels Inequality While Jobs Barely Cover Essentials

Texas is riding high on a wave of economic success. Governor Greg Abbott recently heralded the state’s addition of over 2.5 million jobs since 2015, with 37,700 nonfarm jobs created in April 2025 alone. These figures position Texas as the nation’s leader in job creation, a beacon of opportunity in a competitive landscape. Yet, beneath the dazzling statistics, a more complex reality emerges for everyday Texans.

The governor’s announcement emphasizes pro-business legislation as the engine of this growth, framing Texas as a haven for corporate relocations. But who reaps the rewards? While businesses flock to the state and construction booms, many workers face wages that barely cover essentials. The story isn’t just about job numbers; it’s about whether those jobs offer a sustainable future.

Texas’ economy is thriving, with a 3.9% GDP increase in 2024 that outpaced the national average. Still, I can’t shake the unease that this growth leaves too many behind. As a Texan, I want our state to succeed, but success should mean more than corporate profits. Why do we celebrate jobs that keep families scraping by?

Advocates for fair economic policies argue that Texas’ approach skews heavily toward business interests. In 2024, the state attracted 1,368 capital investment projects, far surpassing its peers. But this boom often comes at the expense of workers, with policies linked to rising income inequality and weakened labor protections. We need to look closer at what this growth truly delivers.

The governor’s vision is clear: keep Texas business-friendly. But a critical question lingers: can we build an economy where prosperity reaches everyone, not just a select few?

Texas’ economic playbook relies on deregulation and tax incentives, a strategy tracing back to the 1980s push for minimal government interference. Right-to-work laws, streamlined permitting, and corporate tax breaks have made Texas a magnet for businesses, evidenced by 1,368 relocation and expansion projects in 2024. These policies fueled 215,500 new nonfarm jobs from April 2024 to April 2025, but the gains tilt toward the top.

Studies reveal a darker side. Business-friendly policies often lead to wage stagnation and diminished worker rights. The Economic Policy Institute highlights how weak collective bargaining and relaxed labor standards suppress earnings for low- and middle-income workers, even as corporate profits climb. Are we building a Texas where only executives thrive?

Recent legislation, signed in May 2025, reinforces this trend by protecting businesses from legal challenges, prioritizing shareholder interests. Proponents argue this spurs innovation, but critics warn it allows corporations to sidestep accountability, leaving workers exposed to unsafe conditions or reduced benefits. When businesses face fewer checks, workers pay the price.

History offers perspective. Texas’ Southern economic model, emphasizing low taxes and light regulation since the mid-20th century, has driven investment but often neglected public services like education and healthcare. Today, these gaps strain communities, even as job numbers soar. True progress demands more than job creation; it requires jobs that uplift.

Some defend Texas’ approach, citing its 4.1% unemployment rate in January 2025 as proof of success. Yet, jobs without livable wages or stability fall short. Advocates for equitable growth propose a better path: policies that ensure workers share in the wealth they help create, balancing business needs with human dignity.

Workforce training, like programs under the Texas Workforce Commission, shows promise but needs refinement. Research from New York and Virginia indicates many training incentives underperform, suggesting Texas should focus on high-wage sectors like healthcare and clean energy to offer workers real opportunities, not just low-skill roles.

A different vision is possible. Advocates for equitable growth champion policies that prioritize workers alongside businesses. Higher minimum wages, stronger collective bargaining, and investments in education and infrastructure can create lasting prosperity. The Center for Equitable Growth emphasizes policies that ensure fair wages and benefits from the outset, strengthening working-class families. Texas has the potential to lead here.

Evidence supports this approach. States with robust labor protections, like Massachusetts, achieve growth with less income inequality. Texas, however, risks undermining workers by prioritizing business attraction over labor standards. In 2024, states like Florida and Kentucky faced criticism for weakening minimum wage and child labor laws. Texas must avoid this path.

The governor’s supporters highlight Texas’ record 14.2 million jobs in January 2025 as unmatched success. But raw numbers don’t capture the struggle of workers who can’t afford basics. Equitable policies offer a solution: link business incentives to strong labor standards, fund public services through fair taxation, and invest in industries that provide career growth, not dead-end jobs.

Texas’ past shows it can evolve. After the 1980s oil bust, the state embraced technology and healthcare. Now, it can pivot toward an economy that values people, with investments in clean energy and advanced manufacturing paired with worker protections. This approach could make Texas a leader in both opportunity and fairness.

Texas faces a pivotal moment. The governor’s focus on business-driven growth has delivered over 2.5 million jobs since 2015, but it risks widening inequality and eroding worker rights. Celebrating job quantity over quality misses the mark. Every Texan deserves work that pays well, offers stability, and respects their contributions.

Equitable growth isn’t about slowing progress; it’s about ensuring everyone benefits. Texas can achieve this by rejecting harmful deregulation, investing in education and healthcare, and holding corporations accountable. Why accept an economy that prioritizes the few over the many?

As Texas draws businesses and workers, it has a unique opportunity to redefine success. Let’s build a future where every job paves the way to a better life. That’s the Texas worth fighting for.