Unemployment Increases For United States, Texas, & Lubbock

The unemployment rate has increased for Lubbock, Texas, and the nation.

The Texas unemployment rate rose one tenth of a percent from April 2013 to 6.5 percent for May.

Texas still managed to add 19,500 jobs in May, and the state’s annual growth rate in May stood at three percent, and has been positive every month since May 2010.

Nine of the 11 major industries in Texas showed positive growth, led by Education and Health Services, which added 5,500 jobs in May. That industry has added 44,100 jobs over the last year according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

Construction remained as the fastest growing major industry in Texas, adding 39,200 jobs over the year, including 500 jobs over the last month.

Lubbock’s unemployment rate jumped to 5.3 percent for May, up from April’s 4.8 percent, but still down slightly from May 2012’s 5.5 percent.

The Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Lubbock and Crosby Counties, showed losses in the financial activities, professional and business services, and educational and health services of 100 jobs each. The leisure and hospitality services sector posted a 500 job increase.

The highest unemployment rate in the state is in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area at 10.9 percent for May 2013, up from April’s 10.5 percent, and still up from May 2012’s 10.8 percent. The Brownsville-Harlingen area’s unemployment rate for May is at 10.4 percent, followed by the Beaumont-Port Arthur area at 10.1 percent.

The lowest unemployment rate in Texas is in Midland with 3.4 percent for May, followed by Odessa at 4.1 percent, and Amarillo at 4.8 percent.

The national unemployment rate is at 7.6 percent for May, up from April’s 7.5 percent, but still down from May 2012’s 8.2 percent.

More information is available from the Texas Workforce Commission.