Texas Unemployment Rate Remains at 8 Percent

The Texas Workforce Commission today released May employment statistics.  The state’s unemployment rate in May was 8 percent, unchanged from April and significantly below the national unemployment rate of 9.1 percent.  8,800 jobs were added in Texas during the month of May.

“Texas continues to weather the storm,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Tom Pauken. “Although national unemployment has gone up, our unemployment rate in Texas remains at 8.0 percent. There is continued private-sector job growth, and this includes an additional 10,900 manufacturing jobs since this time last year.”

Lubbock’s unemployment rate rose slightly from 5.7 percent to 5.9 percent.

Other regional unemployment rates include Amarillo at 5.4 percent, Abilene at 6.6 percent, Midland- which continues to have the lowest unemployment in the state- at 4.6 percent, Odessa at 6.1 percent, San Angelo at 6.3 percent and Wichita Falls at 7.1 percent.

“We’ve added 92,300 jobs in Texas so far in 2011,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. “That is a trend that we hope to continue until all Texans have good jobs earning good wages.”

The Manufacturing industry added 1,900 jobs in May for a total of 10,900 jobs added since last year, and the industry’s eighth consecutive month of annual job gains; Construction employment increased by 1,500 jobs over the month for a total gain of 23,200 jobs since last year.