Lubbock’s Unemployment Rate Drops in December

Friday, the Texas Workforce Commission released December employment statistics for the state.  For the fifth consecutive month, Texas' unemployment rate dropped, in December going to 6%.  Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate is 6.7%.

The number of jobs continues to grow in the state; 17,600 non-farm job were added in December. In 2013, 252,400 non-farm jobs were added in Texas. Growth sectors included Manufacturing, Construction and Trade, Transportation and Utilities.

Lubbock's unemployment rate dropped two tenths of a percent in December to 4.3%. Other regional unemployment rates included Abilene at 4.4%, Amarillo at 4%, Wichita Falls at 5.1%, San Angelo at 4.4%, Odessa at 3.4% and Midland at 2.8%.  Midland continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the state.

3,800 jobs were added in the Lubbock MSA in 2013.