Unemployment Drops in November as Private Industries Grow

The Texas unemployment rate dropped from 8.4 percent to 8.1 percent in November, according to statistics released today by the Texas Workforce Commission. The unemployment rate remains lower than the national unemployment rate  — which decreased slightly more than Texas' unemployment rate in the last month, from 9 percent to 8.6 percent. 

The Texas private sector added 22,700 jobs in November, and nearly all industries experienced job growth. Government employment and construction were the exception, which lost 1,900 and 2,200 jobs, respectively. 

"Job growth across a number of industries, including manufacturing and financial activities, and the drop in the unemployment rate are positive signs," said Andres Alcantar, a TWC commissioner, in a press release. 

The state has added 289,900 private sector jobs over the last year, and cut a total of 63,900 government jobs. Most of the government cutbacks were in public education, according to a report released Thursday by the Dallas Federal Reserve. 

Leisure and hospitality, a generally low-paying industry, added the most jobs in November (5,600), followed by financial activities (4,800), and professional and business services (3,400).