(The Center Square) – Texas’ job growth continued last month in most sectors with the oil and natural gas industry showing signs of fluctuation.
Texas’ unemployment rate was also higher last month and higher than the national rate. Key regions that have historically had high unemployment rates also increased, according to newly released data.
Last month, Texas added 43,400 nonfarm jobs to reach a total of 14,469,600 positions. Over the year, 177,900 jobs were added statewide.
Texas’ annual job growth rate was 1.2% over the year, again outpacing the national growth rate of 0.9%, according to the latest Texas Workforce Commission data.
Texas’ civilian labor force totaled 15,904,900 after adding 3,400 people over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force added 29,700 people, the TWC said.
“Texas’ continued job growth is a testament to the strength of our employers and robust workforce development system,” TWC Chairman Joe Esparza said. “The addition of more than 177,000 jobs over the year reinforces Texas’ reputation among employers as the best place to start and grow a business.”
The Professional and Business Services industry reported the largest private sector over-the-month increase in June after adding 25,500 jobs. The Leisure and Hospitality sector added 10,300 jobs over the month; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 6,400.
The oil and natural gas industry also added jobs while reporting losses in the upstream sector. At least 400 upstream jobs were added between May and June, reflecting a decline of 900 jobs in oil and natural gas extraction (61,900) and an increase of 1,300 service sector jobs (135,800), according to an analysis of employment data by the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association.
The upstream sector includes oil and natural gas extraction and related support activities. It excludes refining, petrochemicals, pipelines, and equipment manufacturing, which support hundreds of thousands of additional jobs in Texas.
In recent months, the industry has reported gaining jobs in the service sector and losing hundreds of jobs each month in the upstream sector, The Center Square reported. In April, the upstream sector reported the most job losses this year of 1,300, The Center Square reported.
Overall, “the growth of the Texas labor market highlights the incredible talent and dedication of our state’s workforce,” TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III said in a statement. “With an annual growth rate of 1.2 percent, Texas continues to outpace the national average and demonstrate economic resilience,” TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett said. “Both job seekers and employers can seek customized career services and recruitment assistance by visiting our TWC website or their local Workforce Solutions office.”
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas increased to 4.9% and was higher than the national rate of 4.4%, according to the data. Both rates were up over the month.
The same metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) reported the lowest and highest unemployment rates as in previous months. Their rates were also higher than they were in the previous month.
The Midland MSA reported the lowest not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.1%, one point higher than last month. Abilene and San Angelo MSAs were also higher, at 3.9% and 4%, respectively, according to the data, The Center Square reported.
The MSAs reporting the highest unemployment rates were again Eagle Pass (8.7%), Brownsville-Harlingen (7.3%) and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission’s 7%. These numbers were also up last month from 8.6%, 6.6% and 6.1%, respectively.
