Texas Unemployment Rates for July 2014

Texas’ economy continued a strong trend of growth during the month of July, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

The Texas Workforce Commission announced with their monthly statistics that the state added more than 46,000 seasonally-adjusted non-farm jobs in July which brings the total expansion of jobs in the last year to nearly 400,000. The unemployment rate held fast at 5.1 percent, which is below the national statistic of 6.2 percent.

During the month of July, Lubbock’s unemployment rate rose slightly from 4.5 percent to 4.7 percent. Midland and Odessa’s unemployment rates both increased by a tenth of a percent to 2.9 and 3.6 percent respectively. Although Midland’s unemployment increased, it still retains one of the lowest rates in the state along with Odessa and Amarillo.

Across the state, the Brownville-Harlingen unemployment rate, while still high at 8.3 percent, is much lower than last year’s statistic of 10.4 percent. The Texas Workforce Commission announced growth in all major industries with Professional Business Services leading the pack at an annual growth rate of 5 percent. They also announced a growth rate of at least 3 percent for eight of eleven major industries including Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Mining and Logging, and Construction.

Texas Governor Rick Perry weighed in on the statistic by saying, “The only thing hotter than a Texas summer is Texas job growth, adding nearly 50,000 jobs in July. Every major industry in Texas added jobs meaning the diversity of our workforce is strong with opportunities for employers to hire good workers, and for workers to find jobs enabling them to meet the needs of their families.”

Find the Texas Workforce Commission Report online here.