DALLAS (Dallas Morning News) – Unemployment continues its decline in Texas for the sixth month in a row, according to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
Nearly 28,000 jobs were added in February, dropping the state’s unemployment rate to 7.1 percent, down two-tenths of a point from January.
Unemployment was at 8 percent last February.
Ronny Congleton of the TWC said eight of the 11 major industries saw growth in the state in February, with local governments adding the most jobs. The construction industry added 4,500 jobs, which Southern Methodist University economist Bernard Weinstein said is due to an increase in commercial and infrastructure work.
The lowest unemployment numbers in the state can be found in Midland and Odessa. Their rates are 3.8 and 4.5 percent, respectively.
Beaumont-Port Arthur has the highest unemployment rate in Texas, at 10.9 percent.
