(HOUSTON) Houston-area employers hired 6,700 people in May, extending to a fourth month streak of positive job growth in the Houston area. The unemployment rate dropped slightly to 5.1%.
Houston’s Leisure & Hospitality industry posted the biggest gain, up 5,800 jobs, making this the largest one-month jump on record for the month of May. “Hotels and restaurants were the biggest contributors to the gain,” said Parker Harvey senior economist at Workforce Solutions.
This may be a good sign for youth employment. Mayor Turner’s Hire Houston Youth initiative aims to place 5,000 working age teens and young adults in summer jobs. Workforce Solutions, in partnership with the City of Houston, has made connecting students to employers looking hire a priority.
More information on the Hire Houston Youth initiative, including hiring events and job search seminars, can be found at wrksolutions.com/hhy.
Manufacturers in May also added jobs, posting a net gain of 1,800 positions. “The industry has now seen six straight months of growth, resulting in nearly 14,000 additional jobs since the most recent bottom in November of 2016,” Harvey said.
The Texas Workforce Commission will release employment numbers for June 2017 on July 21.