State’s employer payrolls expand in 57 of the past 58 months
AUSTIN – Texas added jobs for the fourth consecutive month with the addition of 
31,400 seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs in July. The state has added jobs in 57 of the last 58 months.
“Texas employers added 31,400 jobs in July, resulting in an increase of 260,500 positions over the year,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Andres Alcantar. “The steady growth in jobs demonstrates the strength and diversity of the Texas economy.”
Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.2 percent in July, the lowest monthly unemployment rate since July 2007. The state has posted a 4.2 percent unemployment rate in four of the first seven months of 2015. Texas’ unemployment rate continues to trend well below the national rate of 5.3 percent and is down from 5.0 percent a year ago.
“A declining unemployment rate is great news for our state,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. “Texas workers are among the most talented and skilled in the world and we continue to seek and implement strategies to connect our skilled workers to good-paying jobs in all regions of our state.”
Employers in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities industry expanded their payrolls by 13,300 jobs in July, contributing to a 3.0 percent annual growth rate for this industry. The Leisure and Hospitality industry added jobs for the 49th consecutive month, with 5,300 positions added, and the Construction industry picked up 2,200 jobs in July.
“Over the month, private employers added more than 20,000 jobs, strengthening the Texas labor market,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Ruth R. Hughs. “TWC and the network of Workforce Solutions business service specialists partner with employers in Texas to help ensure that their workforce remains competitive in the global marketplace. I urge employers who have specific skills needs to utilize TWC training funds by working with their local community colleges to apply for a Skills Development Fund grant.”
The lowest rate of unemployment for a Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) belonged to the Midland MSA in July with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.3 percent, followed by the Amarillo MSA with a 3.4 percent rate and the Austin-Round Rock MSA with a rate of 3.5 percent.
Audio downloads with comments from Commissioner Hughs on the latest labor market data are available on the TWC website press release page. Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit tracer2.com.