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Texas Employment Rate Holds Steady in July
Though total nonagricultural employment in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area decreased by 2,300 in July, the overall Texas unemployment rates held steady at 8.5% for the month – well below the U.S. average of 9.7%. Since January, Texas employers have added 168,900 jobs.
These Texas employment figures were the result of significant government job losses offsetting much of the job gains seen in the private sector through the year. The Professional and Business Services industry recorded its largest monthly job gain in more than a decade in July, adding 12,600 jobs. The Mining and Logging sector grew by 4,600 jobs in July – the sixth consecutive monthly gain in the industry. Construction and Manufacturing also grew by 4,300 jobs each for the month.
In the Beaumont-Port Arthur area, local government jobs decreased by 1,900 positions in July due to school districts releasing staff for the summer. Despite five months of gains in the Leisure and Hospitality industry, this sector lost 100 jobs in July, as did the Education and Health Services industry. Southeast Texas Mining, Logging and Construction, Manufacturing, and Wholesale Trade increased by 100 jobs each in July.
Unemployment Figures*
Area
Texas
Southeast Texas
Beaumont-Port Arthur
Hardin County
Jefferson County
Orange County
Beaumont
Port Arthur |
July 2010
8.5%
11.1%
11.1%
10.2%
11.3%
11.2%
10.3%
14.1%
|
June 2010
8.5%
11.2%
11.2%
10.3%
11.5%
10.9%
10.4%
14.4%
|
July 2009
8.3%
10.3%
10.3%
9.9%
10.2%
10.9%
9.0%
14.0%
|
**Sources: U. S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8/20/2010 and Texas Workforce Commission release 8/20/2010. |
