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Unemployment rises in east Texas
By ALEX WUKMAN
Many people might think that east Texas isn’t feeling the effects of the recession. The banks are still ready to lend money to qualified applicants, there aren’t streets lined with foreclosed homes and the stores are still open.
However, the recently released unemployment figures show just how much the national economy is hitting the Piney Woods area. According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics/ Texas Workforce Commission figures, 6.8 percent of Liberty County’s workforce is unemployed.
Liberty County’s unemployment rate is almost a full percentage point above the state average and .1 percent above the national average. San Jacinto County is faring a little better with 6.4 percent of the workforce unemployed.
A casual study reveals that over the last six months Liberty County’s unemployment rate has climbed by a full percentage point. And it climbed by one and a half percentage points in a year.
San Jacinto County’s unemployment rate has remained fairly stable though. From July 2008 to November 2008, the last month for which figures are available, it has hovered around 6.3 percent.
In July, 6.2 percent of San Jacinto County’s 10,545-person workforce was unemployed; five months later the number had only increased by .2 percent.
Despite that in 2008 Texas, with a 2.1 percent gain in employment, had the second largest increase in jobs, San Jacinto County’s unemployment rate is still a full percentage point higher than it was in 2007.
The fact that both Liberty and San Jacinto County have exceeded the state unemployment average for two consecutive years has led many local and state politicians to push for more economic development and training opportunities for area residents. Only time will tell if the opportunities present themselves.
However, the recently released unemployment figures show just how much the national economy is hitting the Piney Woods area. According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics/ Texas Workforce Commission figures, 6.8 percent of Liberty County’s workforce is unemployed.
Liberty County’s unemployment rate is almost a full percentage point above the state average and .1 percent above the national average. San Jacinto County is faring a little better with 6.4 percent of the workforce unemployed.
A casual study reveals that over the last six months Liberty County’s unemployment rate has climbed by a full percentage point. And it climbed by one and a half percentage points in a year.
San Jacinto County’s unemployment rate has remained fairly stable though. From July 2008 to November 2008, the last month for which figures are available, it has hovered around 6.3 percent.
In July, 6.2 percent of San Jacinto County’s 10,545-person workforce was unemployed; five months later the number had only increased by .2 percent.
Despite that in 2008 Texas, with a 2.1 percent gain in employment, had the second largest increase in jobs, San Jacinto County’s unemployment rate is still a full percentage point higher than it was in 2007.
The fact that both Liberty and San Jacinto County have exceeded the state unemployment average for two consecutive years has led many local and state politicians to push for more economic development and training opportunities for area residents. Only time will tell if the opportunities present themselves.
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