AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) – According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, four major Texas metros had the strongest employment gains in the nation during the past five years.

Houston led the way with 129,800 new private-sector jobs created between June 2005 and June 2010.

Dallas came in second with 71,300 jobs, followed by Austin and San Antonio with 56,100 and 32,600, respectively.

With 84 of the nation's 100 biggest labor markets suffering losses in private-sector employment during that time, Texas represented one-fourth of those that finished on the upside.

In a shorter time span, Texas fared well with Austin having the largest one-year gain at 8,400 jobs and Dallas ranking third with 4,800 private-sector jobs created between June 2009 and June 2010.