The guest speaker for the May meeting of the Dallas Multi-Discipline Group was Laila Assanie of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Laila shared the Fed’s observations about the economic strength of Texas. Despite job growth that dipped below the national average after the 2015-2016 oil bust, the current economic outlook in Texas continues to be overwhelmingly positive. The current unemployment rate of 4.1% is nearing a record low. From December 2017 to March 2018, Texas employment strengthened by about 3.5%, representing the country’s fifth largest increase in employment. The overall 2018 forecast for Texas is 3+%, driven by continued U.S. economic growth, continued expansion in manufacturing and engineering, and a boost from post-Hurricane Harvey restoration work. Continuing challenges that limit more accelerated job growth include tight labor markets, declining oil prices, and trade negotiations.