The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined for the first time in three months, dropping to 3.9 percent for December.
The state added 29,500 new jobs for the month.
In the Valley, jobless rates remained among the highest in the state, with the Brownsville-Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area recording a December rate of 5.7 percent, unchanged from November.
In the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA, the December rate was 6.8 percent, up from 6.4 percent the previous month. It was the highest jobless rate in the state.
“The Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell for the first time in three months to 3.9 percent after having stood at 4 percent since September 2022,” Mariana Vega, director of labor market information at the Texas Workforce Commission, said in a press briefing.
“The civilian labor force increased by 19,600 persons to reach a series high 14,6523,700 people,” she added. “The job count moved up by 29,500 jobs as Texas reported a 14th consecutive employment high at 13,705,500 positions since January.”
Education and health services led job growth in December with 12,700 positions added, followed by financial activities, which grew by 6,300 jobs.
Manufacturing employment added 5,500 jobs over the month.
Vega noted that latter number was the highest job level gain in the manufacturing sector since July 2007.
The Amarillo and Midland MSAs recorded the lowest unemployment rates at 2.6 percent each in December, followed by Austin-Round Rock at 2.7 percent and College Station-Bryan at 2.8 percent.
Vying for the highest rate in the state along with the Valley MSAs was Beaumont-Port Arthur at 6.3 percent, up from 6.0 percent in November.
