Quantcast

Longview Times

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

East Texas unemployment slightly lower than state's average

Ward

File image

File image

Texas' unemployment rate rose to 8.3% in September despite adding 40,700 new jobs – the fifth consecutive month of job growth since coronavirus response measures began.

The increase in the rate was due to the number of people looking for work shrinking while the number of those who are unemployed rose. 

"Despite the increase in the overall unemployment rate, Texas had a net gain in jobs for September,” Bryan Daniel, Texas Workforce Commission chairman, said. “TWC  continues to implement tools to spur additional job growth as a critical  part of our efforts to grow the state’s economy."

The leisure and hospitality sector added 23,600 jobs while 5,400 government jobs and 4,000 professional and business services jobs were added.

The state's unemployment rate peaked at 13.5% in April when the peak of the COVID-19 economic shutdown was felt. 

Tthe East Texas region's rate is lower at 7.9%, according to data from the Texas Labor Market Information. The East Texas region — which encompasses Rusk, Harrison, Panola, Upshur, Gregg, Rains, Wood, Camp, Marion, Smith, Van Zandt, Henderson, Anderson and Cherokee counties — currently has 30,432 unemployed and 354,883 employed in the region. 

ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY

!RECEIVE ALERTS

The next time we write about any of these orgs, we’ll email you a link to the story. You may edit your settings or unsubscribe at any time.
Sign-up

DONATE

Help support the Metric Media Foundation's mission to restore community based news.
Donate

MORE NEWS