Texas jobless rate falls again to 8.0 percent

[TomCADem]

Source: Business Week

The Texas unemployment rate dropped for the third consecutive month to 8.0 percent in April as another 32,900 nonfarm jobs were added, the state employment agency said Friday.

Jobs grew for the seventh consecutive month, and Texas has added more than 86,000 positions since the start of the year, according to Texas Workforce Commission figures.

The Texas jobless rate dropped from 8.1 percent in March and 8.2 percent a year ago, remaining below the national figure of 9.0 percent. The March figure marked the first time in four years that the state's unemployment rate fell in consecutive months.

"Texas has demonstrated its ability to bounce back from the effects of the national recession through strong and consistent job growth over the past year," commission Chairman Tom Pauken said in a statement, noting that Texas led the nation by adding 500,000 jobs in the past five years.

The trade, transportation and utilities sector added 17,900 jobs in April and has gained 48,700 positions over the past year. Education and health services added 11,300 jobs last month.


Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9NBC8E80.htm

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Somewhat surprised that all these stories of improving unemployment are not getting much noticed. Instead, I see a lot of rapture stories.

[MrDiaz]

1. Go Texas

Now where are all the Texas Haters

[Redford]

2. They are all packing their bags to move here

I have several reformed Texas Haters living in my neighborhood enjoying great jobs and big houses. They were from CA originally like myself.

[jeaps]

3. Still living here...nt

[plumbob]

4. gained 48,700 positions over the past year, eh?

Wait til the 100,000 teacher jobs and 10,000 state jobs hit the unemployment fan between June and September. There goes two years of job gains.

The multiplier effect will have 250,000 other Texans out of work by Christmas and a million by this time next year. Be sure and take notes as to which bought and paid for politicians voted for the current state budget and created this fiasco.

[They_Live]

5. The figure I saw was closer to

335,000 jobs, but I don't have a source handy.

[thanks_imjustlurking]

6. You've got that exactly right. nt