Texas adds jobs again in November, jobless rate falls

Texas adds jobs again in November, jobless rate falls



Texas employers expanded payrolls by 17,300 jobs in November, the second straight month in which the state gained jobs, and the unemployment rate fell to 8 percent from 8.3 percent in October, the Texas Workforce Commission said Friday. The November jobs report amounted to some of the strongest evidence yet that the state economy has begun a recovery after plunging into recession about a year ago. Payroll employment grew by 52,300 jobs in October, according to revised figures released Friday. That was even more than the preliminary figure of 41,700 jobs. "Texas employers added a significant number of jobs in most industries during October and November," said Texas Workforce Commission chairman Tom Pauken. "Job growth coupled with a lower unemployment rate indicate movement in a positive direction for Texas." The U.S. economy as a whole has lost jobs every month since December 2007, although the pace of losses has slowed significantly in recent months. The national unemployment rate stood at 10 percent in November. In Texas, economists have cautioned that recovery might not be smooth. The state may yet lose jobs in the months to come. During November, however, mining and logging employment increased by 5,100 jobs. Leisure
and hospitality employment increased by 4,800 positions. Financial activities employment rose by 4,700 jobs, while employers added 3,300 positions in professional and business services added 3,300 positions. Jobs in trade, transportation and utilities, which includes the retail business, fell by 4,500. Employment in manufacturing fell by 4,200 jobs, while employers cut 2,500 construction jobs. Unemployment in the Dallas-Fort Worth area fell to 7.9 percent in November, down from 8.3 percent in October. Unemployment in Dallas-Fort Worth was only 5.6 percent in November 2008. The local figures on joblessness, unlike the state data, are not adjusted to reflect seasonal variations. Read on for more data on other states. There are also signs of gathering strength nationally: Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rate decreases in November. That's according to this report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here's a ranking of the highest and lowest unemployment rates at the state level:


Highest


Michigan: 14.7 percent


Rhode Island: 12.7 percent


California: 12.3 percent


Nevada: 12.3 percent


South Carolina: 12.3 percent


Lowest


North Dakota: 4.1 percent


Nebraska: 4.5 percent


South Dakota: 5 percent


Kansas: 6.3 percent


Utah: 6.3 percent