Texas Unemployment Rate Climbs Slightly, Lubbock’s Unemployment Rate Dips

Texas continues to add jobs.

The Texas economy added 80,600 jobs in February 2013, totaling 259,800 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs added over the year. The state’s employment has grown by 3.3 percent over the year.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4 percent in February, up from January 2013’s 6.3 percent, but still down from February 2012’s 7.1 percent.

Lubbock’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.1 percent for February 2013, down from January’s 5.5 percent and down further from February 2012’s 5.7 percent.

The lowest unemployment rate in the state is in Midland at 3.2 percent for February, down from January’s 3.4 percent. Odessa’s rate for February was 3.8 percent, followed by Amarillo at 4.6 percent.

The highest unemployment rate in the state for February 2013 is in the McAllen-Edinburg- Mission area at 11 percent, followed by the Brownsville-Harlingen area at 10.4 percent and El Paso at 9.1 percent.

Texas’ Goods Producing sector, comprised of Construction, Mining and Logging, and Manufacturing, has seen positive growth with 21,200 jobs added over the month. Professional and Business Services also increased by 25,400 jobs in February.

“With businesses expanding in 11 major industries over the year, including a 4.3 percent annual growth rate in the Goods Producing industries, TWC stands ready to help Texans take advantage of these opportunities,” said Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Andres Alcantar.