Texas unemployment rate holds steady

September 21, 2012, 6:00 pm by Phil Schoch

AUSTIN ? The Texas economy added 38,000 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in August, for a total of 259,500 nonfarm jobs added since last year. Texas? seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 7.1 percent in August. The July rate was revised down from 7.2 to 7.1 percent. The state?s unemployment rate is down from 8.1 percent a year ago, and below the national unemployment rate in August of 8.1 percent.

?"A major component to Texas? long-term economic development is consistent job growth, and that is exactly what we are seeing across a number of different industries,? said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Andres Alcantar. "The private sector in Texas has grown by 279,800 jobs over the last year, a 3.2 percent increase, while national private sector annual growth has been just 1.8 percent.?

?The annual growth rate for Texas has been positive for 28 consecutive months, and has been at or above 2.0 percent since December 2011.

?"Construction jobs grew by 13,600 in August, more than any other industry in Texas, with a total of nearly 38,000 jobs added in that industry in the past 12 months,? said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. "WorkInTexas.com is a good way to connect to jobs here in Texas across many industries, including Construction.?

?Employers in Professional and Business Services added 6,900 positions in August for its fourth straight month of gains. This industry has expanded by 48,900 jobs since August 2011 for a 3.6 percent growth rate.

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 13,100 jobs in August, marking the largest monthly gain since January. Over the month, the Leisure and Hospitality industry expanded by an estimated 4,600 positions. Annual growth in this industry climbed to 4.6 percent in August.

"Texas continues to be the state in which to do business, with seven of the 11 major industries in Texas adding jobs in August,? said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Tom Pauken. "And with the addition of 3,400 Mining and Logging jobs last month, that industry has grown by 9.0 percent in the last year.?

The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the lowest August unemployment rate in the state at 3.8 percent. The Odessa MSA came in second at 4.5 percent, and the Amarillo MSA third at 5.0 percent (not seasonally adjusted).

Source: http://www.burnetbulletin.com/news_article.php?article_id=3333

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