Unemployment Holds at 5.8 percent
Groveton News - August 2007

GROVETON – After holding at 4.9 percent for two months, the local unemployment rate took a substan­tial leap in June, rising to 5.8 per­cent, according to figures released by the Texas Workforce Commis­sion
The June figures – the latest cur­rently available from TWC – indi­cate that during that month there were 5,680 workers in the county and that 330 of them were looking for jobs.
May’s report listed a total of 5,640 workers with 274 looking for jobs.
While the June rate is up by al­most a full percentage point from May, it is down significantly from the 6.7 percent unemployment re­corded in June 2006.
The 5.8 percent jobless figure is the lowest June rate posted by TWC for Trinity County since a 5.5 percent report was recorded in June 2000. Traditionally, the rate re­corded in June is among the highest recorded for the entire year.
Statewide, June’s actual unem­ployment rate of 4.6 percent also was up from the 3.9 percent figure posted in May. However, it was down from the 5.5 percent rate listed for June 2006.
When seasonal factors are added to the equation, the state’s June unemployment rate was listed at 4.1 percent, which was unchanged from the May report. The latest season­ally adjusted rate also was down from the 4.9 percent figure re­corded in June 2006.
The actual national unemploy­ment rate for June was listed at 4.7 percent, which was up from the 4.3 percent rate recorded in May 2006. The new U.S. Figure is down slightly from the 4.8 percent rate posted in June 2006.

Like the state rates, June’s sea­sonally adjusted U.S. rate of 4.5 percent was unchanged from the May level. It was, however, down slightly from the 4.6 percent figure recorded for June 2006.
In the report, TWC officials noted seasonally adjusted nonagri­cultural employment in Texas grew by 8,300 jobs in June and by 213,500 jobs over the past 12 months. This gives the state an an­nual growth rate of 2.1 percent.
“This remarkably low unem­ployment rate reflects the strength of the Texas economy,” said TWC Chair Diane Rath. “Workers have abundant opportunities as Texas employers continue to expand.”
Employment in the Leisure & Hospitality sector of the economy led this month with an increase of 3.800 jobs for a total of 37,100 since June 2006. This represents a 3.9 percent annual growth rate.
The Construction section also continued to surge forward with 3,400 jobs added in June, for a total of 20,900 jobs over the year, an annual growth rate of 3.4 percent.
“As I travel across the state, em­ployer confidence is high,” said TWC Employer Commissioner Ron Lehman. “We have recorded job growth in 10 of 11 industry sectors over the past year, with only Infor­mation showing a slight decline of less than one percent.”
The Financial Activities sector gained 1,100 jobs in June, contrib­uting to an annual job growth of 10,900. Mining continued to main­tain the highest annual job growth rate at 9.2 percent, adding 600 jobs during the month.

“With job growth comes oppor­tunities for Texas workers to ex­pand skill sets and advance their careers,” said TWC Labor Com­missioner Ronny Congleton. “This opens up positions for entry-level workers, creating a larger, stronger Texas workforce.”
Of the state’s 25 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), the high­est jobless rate was the 6.9 percent figure recorded for the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA
Next were the Brownsville-Har­lingen MSA at 6.5 percent, the El Paso MSA at 6.2 percent; the Beaumont-Port Arthur MSA at 5.6 percent; the Laredo MSA at 5.3 percent; and the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood MSA at 5.1 percent;.
The MSA with the lowest unem­ployment during the month was the Midland MSA at 3.2 percent, fol­lowed by the Amarillo MSA at 3.7 percent; the Austin-Round Rock and Odessa MSAs tied at 3.8 per­cent; and the Abilene, San Angelo and Victoria MSAs all tied at 4.0 percent.
Unemployment rates posted for other East Texas counties include:
                    JUNE         %
COUNTY    RATE  CHANGE
Anderson          5.4         +0.7
Angelina           4.6         +0.7
Cherokee          5.2         +0.8
Grimes              5.1         +0.9
Harris               4.4         +0.6
Houston            7.0         +1.2
Jasper                59         +0.7
Jefferson          5.7         +0.7
Leon                 4.6         +0.8
Liberty              5.3         +0.8
Madison            5.1         +0.7
Montgomery     4.1         +0.5
Nacogdoches    4.8         +1.2
Polk                  6.1         +0.8
Sabine              8.3         -0.6
San Augustine   5.9         +0.8
San Jacinto       5.7         +1.1
Shelby              4.9         +0.9
Trinity             5.8        +0.9
Tyler                5.7         +0.6
Walker             5.6         +1.4

   The City and County is required to have a subdivision ordinance that contains certain requirements.  These are contained in Model Subdivision Rules that the TWDB has prepared.
 After accepting questions and making comments about the request, County Attorney Joe Bell deemed the application in good form. 
   The Commissioners’ Court voted to adopt the amendment. 

The owner of a local landscaping business, Flowers by Mark, Haslett appeared to have been dead for one or two days before his body was discovered, Gentry said.
Anyone who has any information regarding Haslett is being asked to call the police department, sheriff’s department or Trinity County Crime Stoppers.
The police can be reached at 594-2505, the sheriff’s department can be contacted at 642-1424 and the local Crime Stopper’s number is 642-2334.
In addition to officers from the Trinity Police Department and Trinity County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Rangers Pete Mankunas of Lufkin and Bryan Wells of Huntsville are assisting with the investigation.
Funeral services for Haslett were held on July 23 at the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Trinity.