Unemployment Continues to Decline for Texas, Lubbock

The unemployment rate in both Texas and the Hub City has dropped.

Texas’ unemployment rate for November 2012 dipped to 6.2 percent, down from October’s 6.6 percent and 7.3 percent at the beginning of 2012, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

The employment news is even better for the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Lubbock and Crosby Counties.

Unemployment has fallen to 4.6 percent for November 2012, down from the 4.9 percent recorded in October, and down further still from November 2011’s 5.5 percent.

Job losses occurred in the goods producing sector and leisure and hospitality sector, but major job gains were seen in retail trade and government sectors. Local government for Lubbock and Crosby Counties added 200 jobs, and the others were federal and state positions.

The lowest unemployment rate for a metropolitan statistical area in the state is in Midland at three percent, followed by Odessa at 3.6 percent, and Amarillo in third at 4.1 percent.

The highest unemployment rate for November in Texas was in the Brownsville – Harlingen area at 9.7 percent, down from October’s 10.1 percent and November 2011’s 11 percent. The McAllen – Edinburg – Mission area’s unemployment rate is at 9.6 percent, and the Beaumont – Port Arthur area was at 9.2 percent for November.

Across the South Plains, Yoakum County posted the lowest unemployment rate at 3 percent, and the highest is in Dickens County at 8.1 percent, remaining unchanged from October 2012.

“Texas is showing sustained economic strength, and or unemployment rate is now the lowest that it has been since December 2008,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton.

TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Tom Pauken said that “We’ve seen 266,400 private sector jobs added in Texas over the past year, and we’re maintaining a three percent annual growth rate.”

The unemployment rate for the Austin – Round Rock – San Marcos area is at 4.9 percent, Dallas – Fort Worth – Arlington rate is at 5.7 percent, and the Houston Sugar Land – Baytown rate is at 5.8 percent.

The national unemployment rate is at 7.7 percent.