Unemployment Numbers Climb for Texas, Lubbock

Texas employment numbers for June 2012 show some added jobs in the state, but not enough to stave off a higher unemployment rate, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

Locally, the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Lubbock and Crosby Counties, added 1,579 people to the unemployment number from May 2012 to June 2012.

This brings the Lubbock MSA unemployment rate to 6.5 percent, up from May 2012’s 5.4 percent, but still down from June 2011’s 7.3 percent.

The biggest losses for the Lubbock MSA are the service providing sector, which lost 2,600 jobs, and the government sector, which saw a reduction of 2,100 jobs. Within the government sector, 2,200 jobs were cut from the state government level, and 100 were added by local governments. The federal government sector remains unchanged.

Within the City of Lubbock itself, the unemployment rate climbed to 6.4 percent, up from May 2012’s 5.3 percent, and still down from June 2011’s 7.2 percent.

Regionally, the highest unemployment is in Dickens County with 10.1 percent, and the lowest is in Motley County, at 4 percent.

Statewide, Texas’ unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent for June, up from May 2012’s 6.9 percent, and still down from June 2011’s 8.6 percent. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.0 percent. The national unemployment rate for June 2012 is 8.2 percent.

The available labor force for Texas increased by 117,743 in June, and 19,775 people have been added to the employed roster, but unemployment numbers jumped from May 2012’s 866,719 to June’s 964,687, an increase of 97,968 people. Seasonally adjusted, the economy added 12,900 nonfarm jobs in June.

The lowest unemployment rate in the state for June was the Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area, at 4.3 percent, followed by the Odessa MSA at 4.9 percent and the Amarillo MSA at 5.5 percent.

The highest unemployment rate in the state is in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area at 12 percent, followed by the Beaumont-Port Arthur and Brownsville-Harlingen areas tied at 11.4 percent.

"For nearly two years, employers in Texas have expanded their payrolls and kept the economic engine of Texas moving forward," said Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Andres Alcantar.  "Since last year, the Texas economy has added more than 282,000 private sector jobs."

The TWC's press release is available here.