Latest county unemployment rate spikes
July 1, 2009 -

By Stewart James
sjames@bizpress.net

After exhibiting signs of revival in April, the Collin County unemployment rate spiked 0.5 percent in May – the largest month-to-month increase this year, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. At 6.9 percent, the county’s unemployment rate is the highest it has been this decade.

Collin County’s unemployment rate remains on par with Texas’ not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, which also rose to 6.9 percent in May from 6.4 percent in April. Both the county and state’s unemployment rates continued to trend well below the national rate of 9.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
While below the national rate, the Texas unemployment rate continues to follow the national unemployment rate’s upward trend, said Tom Pauken, TWC chairman, in a released statement.

“Few industries were spared in May as Texas employers continued to report job losses,” he said. “Continued unemployment claims increased in Texas as well.”

Texas has recorded a net loss of 222,600 jobs in the last year, compared with job losses of 5.4 million in the United States during the same period, according to the TWC.

Texas saw industry losses across the board in May. The hardest hit industries were manufacturing with a loss of 12,800 jobs during the month, followed by construction with a loss of 10,400 jobs.

“Texas workers are facing a tight job market as employers across most industries reported job losses in May,” said Ronny Congleton, TWC commissioner representing labor, in a released statement.
Congleton said job search assistance is available from TWC and 28 workforce boards across the state.

Education and health services remained strong, adding an additional 5,800 jobs in May to total 59,600 jobs during the year. Oother service industries, including automotive, electronic, and commercial repair and maintenance, grew by 5,200 jobs in May.

“While our unemployment rate rose in May, it does remain 2.3 percentage points below the national rate, and Texas experienced job growth in education and health care,” said Andres Alcantar, TWC commissioner representing the public. “TWC and the workforce centers around the state remain focused on helping Texans find jobs.”

The Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) experienced the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 4.6 percent, followed by the Amarillo MSA, which recorded the second-lowest unemployment rate at 4.7 percent. The College Station-Bryan MSA was third-lowest at 4.9 percent.

TWC distributes $100 million in stimulus dollars

Eligible Texans began receiving an additional $25 in weekly unemployment benefits resulting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Since February, the TWC has distributed more than $100 million in ARRA unemployment funds.

“The $100 million for increased unemployment benefits supplied by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being pumped back into the Texas economy,” Pauken said.

The increase is federally funded, and Texas employers do not contribute the additional benefits. TWC administers unemployment benefits to workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own and are actively seeking work.

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