Texas Border Business
As originally published by Texas Border Business newsprint edition May 2018
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) released the March 2018 Labor Market and Employment reports. The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1%, and Texas held steady at 4.0%.
Statewide Overview for March:
Texas had a net gain of 32,000 nonagricultural jobs in March and has added a total of 294,100 in the past year (seasonally adjusted). This represents a 2.4% annual employment growth rate.
Goods-Producing employment increased by 10,600 jobs in March, and a total of 80,600 jobs were added in the past twelve months. The Construction sector led with a gain of 34,000 jobs in the past year. Energy added another 27,800, and Manufacturing added 18,800 jobs in the previous twelve-month period. The Goods-Producing sector has seen a 4.6% growth rate over the past twelve months.
The Service sectors in total gained 21,400 jobs in March and a total of 213,500 jobs in the past year. The Trade, Transportation & Utilities sector led in March with an estimated 7,500 employees added, followed by Professional & Business Services with 6,200.
Regional Unemployment Recap:
The March data shows the unemployment rates generally decreasing across our region at the county level. We continue to see significantly lower unemployment rates than reported one year ago.
Cities:
The cities showed relatively flat changes overall, with some increasing slightly and other showing slight decreases in March:
Edinburg had the lowest unemployment rate in the RGV with 4.7%, a decrease of .2%.
McAllen was the second-lowest, at 5.0%, an increase of .1%
Mission and Harlingen were tied for third, at 6.1%.
Laredo again had the lowest rate in our border region at 4.0%, an increase of .1%
 released the March 2018 Labor Market and Employment reports. The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1%, and Texas held steady at 4.0%. ){kind=link}