McALLEN — More people were employed in July than in June in Hidalgo County, a positive sign for the region during a time of year when temporary layoffs typically negatively impact unemployment rates.
Hidalgo County posted a 6.9 percent unemployment rate while the city of McAllen held the lowest unemployment rate in July of any Rio Grande Valley city at 4.9 percent, down 0.2 percent from June.
“McAllen is without a doubt continuing to be the leader throughout the Rio Grande Valley, in terms of growth and opportunity for residents in the area ready to work,” McAllen Mayor Jim Darling said in a statement. “The city of McAllen continues to find ways to diversify the economy, which translates to new jobs replacing old jobs. We will continue to make sure that we work with all entities involved in the employment industry to make sure that there are jobs to be had and a ready workforce to fill them.”
While McAllen posted the lowest unemployment rate in the region, the area still sits well above the state’s unemployment rate, which is 4.9 percent. Edinburg checked in at 5.1 percent unemployment. Harlingen was third in the Valley, with a 6.1 percent unemployment rate.
Cameron County clocked in at a 6.6 percent unemployment rate in July while Starr County had a 10.2 percent unemployment rate that same month.
