Innovation Update

Return to Article

Texas Jobless Rate Up To 7.1 Percent

The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The state's unemployment rate jumped to 7.1 percent in May, according to figures released by the Texas Workforce Commission on Friday.

The number is up from a revised 6.6 percent jobless rate in April, which means an even tighter job market for would-be Texas workers.

The May figure reflects the widespread job losses most employers reported for the month.

"The Texas unemployment rate continued to follow the national unemployment rate's upward trend," said Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken.

Still, the state's unemployment rate remains well below the national 9.4 percent jobless rate.

Manufacturing was hardest hit in Texas with 12,800 positions lost. That was followed by 10,400 lost construction jobs. Some bright spots remained in education and health, which reported an additional 5,800 new positions.

The other services industry, which includes automotive, electronic and commercial repair, grew by 5,200 jobs in May.

The Lubbock area experienced the lowest unemployment rate at 4.6, not seasonally adjusted. While the highest rate was in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area.

Unemployment rates are adjusted for seasonal trends in hiring and firing, which most economists believe gives a better picture of the job market.

Without the seasonal adjustment, the Texas unemployment rate dropped to 6.9 percent in May from 6.4 percent in April and 4.5 percent a year ago.

Following are the preliminary May jobless rates for local areas in Texas, with revised April numbers in parentheses. The local figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Abilene 5.2 (4.8)

Amarillo 4.7 (4.1)

Austin-Round Rock 6.1 (5.8)

Beaumont-Port Arthur 9.1 (8.2)

Brownsville-Harlingen 9.0 (8.4)

College Station-Bryan 4.9 (4.5)

Corpus Christi 6.6 (5.9)

Dallas-Plano-Irving 7.2 (6.6)

El Paso 8.3 (7.6)

Fort Worth-Arlington 7.1 (6.6)

Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown 6.9 (6.3)

Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood 6.1 (5.6)

Laredo 7.8 (7.2)

Longview 6.9 (6.2)

Lubbock 4.6 (4.2)

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission 9.4 (8.9)

Midland 5.2 (4.5)

Odessa 7.8 (6.6)

San Angelo 5.8 (5.5)

San Antonio 5.8 (5.4)

Sherman-Denison 7.4 (6.9)

Texarkana 5.8 (5.2)

Tyler 7.0 (6.4)

Victoria 6.8 (6.1)

Waco 6.0 (5.5)

Wichita Falls 6.7 (6.2)