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Unemployment Up Slightly In Austin; Down In Texas


Unemployment rose slightly in Austin in December.

The rate increased from 4.9 percent to 5 percent.

The Texas unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent in December, down from 6.2 percent in November and from 7.4 percent a year ago. This marked the fourth straight month that the unemployment rate in Texas has declined.

Private sector employers in Texas added 257,400 jobs since December 2011 for an annual growth rate of 2.9 percent, said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Tom Pauken. Texas is leading the way in helping to make the United States energy independent. Our robust energy sector not only is creating good paying jobs for many Texans in that industry but also is spurring job growth in many other industries.

Both the Brownsville-Harlingen and the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission areas had the highest unemployment rate in December at 10.3 percent. The Midland area had the lowest rate at 3.1 percent.