Texas Jobless Rate Up To 7.1 Percent

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)