Unemployment Rate Dips in Texas, Lubbock For March 2014

The unemployment rate in Texas and the Hub City has dipped for March of 2014.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas fell to 5.5 percent for March, down from February’s rate of 5.7 percent.

The unemployment rate in Texas remains well below the national unemployment rate of 6.7 percent.

Texas employers added 9,100 jobs in March for a total of 310,000 jobs added over the year.

“The Texas economy continues to move in the right direction with Texas employers adding 310,000 jobs over the year,” said Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Andres Alcantar. “All 11 of the major industries experienced annual job growth, with five industries exceeding growth rates of three percent.”

The unemployment rate for the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Lubbock and Crosby Counties, was at 4.0 percent for March 2014, down from February’s 4.4 percent and far from March 2013’s 5.2 percent.

The highest unemployment rate in the state is in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area at 9.4 percent, followed by the Brownsville-Harlingen area at 8.8 percent.

The lowest unemployment rate in Texas for March 2014 is in Midland at 2.7 percent, followed by the Odessa MSA at 3.3 percent and the Amarillo MSA at 3.8 percent.