Local jobless rate falls to 4.9%
Trinity Standard , October 2007

TRINITY – After holding at 5.8 percent for two months, the local unemployment rate fell in August, dipping down to 4.9 per­cent, according to figures released by the Texas Workforce Commis­sion
The August figures – the latest cur­rently available from TWC – indi­cate that during that month there were 5,481 workers in the county and that 267 of them were looking for jobs.
July’s report listed a total of 5,678 workers with 332 looking for jobs.
While the August rate is down by al­most a full percentage point from July, it is down by 1.4 percentage points from the 6.3 percent rate posted in August 2006.
The 4.9 percent jobless figure is the lowest August rate posted by TWC for Trinity County since a 3.8 percent report was recorded in August 1990.
Statewide, August’s actual unem­ployment rate of 4.1 percent also was down from the 4.8 percent figure posted in July. It also was down from the 5.0 percent rate listed for August 2006.
When seasonal factors are added to the equation, the state’s August unemployment rate was listed at 4.2 percent, which was down from the 4.4 percent rate posted for July. The latest season­ally adjusted rate also was down from the 4.9 percent figure re­corded in August 2006.
The actual national unemploy­ment rate for August was listed at 4.6 percent, which was down from the 4.9 percent rate recorded in July 2006. The new U.S. Figure is unchanged from the 4.6 percent rate posted in August 2006.
August’s sea­sonally adjusted U.S. rate of 4.6 percent was unchanged from the July level. It was, however, down slightly from the 4.7 percent figure recorded for August 2006.
In the report, TWC officials noted seasonally adjusted nonagri­cultural employment in Texas grew by 10,400 jobs in August despite the U.S. economy’s loss of 4,000 jobs. Texas employers added 229,000 jobs in the past year.
 “Our strong Texas economy continues to surpass national trends, with employers adding jobs statewide again this month,” said TWC Chair Diane Rath. “At 4.2 percent, the Texas unemployment rate continues to hover at 30-year record lows and remains well below the national unemployment rate of 4.6 percent.”
The Service Providing sector showed the largest gains. Professional & Business Services showed significant gains of 5,500 jobs, after a banner July, when the industry added 7,500 positions. The industry now stands at a solid 5.1 percent annual growth rate, bringing 62,100 jobs to the Texas economy over the past 12 months.
Government jobs also contributed to the state’s economic health, adding 6,800 positions in August.
“Employers are adding jobs in a wide variety of industries and I’m particularly encouraged by the strong showing in the Service Providing sector,” said TWC Employer Commissioners Ron Lehman.
“Texas’ annual job growth rate now stands at 2.3 percent, well above the national rate of 1.2 percent,” Lehman added.
The Leisure & Hospitality Sector added 3,500 jobs, following an increase of 1,300 jobs in July. This represents an annual growth rate of 4.4 percent.
Natural Resources & Mining increased by 1,600 jobs in August and has added 16,500 jobs over the year for a strong annual growth rate of 8.8 percent.
The Education & Health Services sector created another 1,600 jobs in August, adding to July’s tally of 2,800 positions.
 “There are 229,000 more jobs in Texas as compared to this time last year,” said TWC Labor Commissioner Ronny Congleton. “Our state offers many opportunities to Texans seeking jobs.”
Of the state’s 25 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), the high­est jobless rate was the 6.1 percent figure recorded for the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA
Next were the Brownsville-Har­lingen MSA at 5.6 percent, the El Paso MSA at 5.5 percent; the Beaumont-Port Arthur MSA at 5.3 percent; the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Sherman-Denison and Texarkana MSAs all tied at 4.5 percent; the Laredo MSA at 4.4 percent; and the Corpus Christ MSA at 4.3 percent
The MSA with the lowest unem­ployment during the month was the Midland MSA at 2.8 percent, fol­lowed by the Amarillo and Odessa MSAs tied at 3.3 percent; the Austin-Round Rock, Lubbock and San Angelo MSAs tied at 3.5 per­cent; the Victoria MSA at 3.6 percent; the College Station-Bryan MSA at 3.7; and the Longview and Wichita Falls MSAs tied at 3.9 percent.
Unemployment rates posted for other East Texas counties include:
                             AUG.             %
COUNTY           RATE      CHANGE
Anderson               5.0              -0.6
Angelina                 4.1              -1.1
Cherokee                4.7              -0.7
Grimes                     4.5              -0.7
Harris                      4.0              -0.6
Houston                 6.2              -1.0
Jasper                      5.7              -0.4
Jefferson                 5.4              -0.7
Leon                        4.2              -0.4
Liberty                    4.9              -0.7
Madison                 4.8              -0.5
Montgomery          3.7              -0.6
Nacogdoches        4.1              -0.8
Polk                         5.7              -0.8
Sabine                     7.4              -1.6
San Augustine      5.4              -1.1
San Jacinto             5.0              -0.6
Shelby                     4.5              -0.6
Trinity                   4.9             -0.9
Tyler                        5.5              -0.5
Walker                    4.8              -0.7