Texas Workforce Press Release FOR RELEASE: Embargoed until 9 a.m. DATE: October 21, 2011 MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Givens PHONE: (512) 463-8556 Texas Employers Add 15,400 Jobs in September AUSTIN -- Texas employers added 15,400 net jobs in September, for a total gain of 248,500 nonfarm jobs added since September 2010. Private sector employers added 26,500 jobs in September 2011. The most recent monthly growth brought total nonfarm jobs in Texas to 10,610,100. Texas has experienced positive annual job growth for the past 17 months, with annual growth rates above 2.0 percent for the last four consecutive months. Texas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 8.5 percent in September, unchanged from August, and below the national unemployment rate of 9.1 percent. "Texas' unemployment rate remains unchanged at 8.5 percent for September," said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Tom Pauken. "Nonetheless, I am encouraged to see that we added 26,500 private sector jobs during that time period. This continues a long-term trend in Texas of healthy private sector job growth with 282,200 such jobs added over the last year." Professional and Business Services added 18,400 jobs in September, growing by 68,200 positions over the year, for an annual job growth rate of 5.3 percent. Mining and Logging added 3,400 jobs in September, and had the highest annual growth rate of all the major industries in Texas at 18.4 percent. Construction added 7,200 jobs in September, and had the second highest annual growth rate at 6.3 percent. Manufacturing shed 3,000 positions in September, but still added 18,500 positions since September 2010, maintaining an annual growth rate of 2.3 percent. "Texas job seekers have reason to be encouraged," said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. "Although Texas, like the rest of the country, continues to face challenges, many industries continue to grow here, creating opportunities for those looking for work." Eight of the 11 major industries in Texas gained jobs in September, and all but two continued to show gains over the year. The Government sector continued to contract, shedding 11,100 jobs in September, totaling 33,700 lost over the year. "This was the 21st consecutive month that Texas' private sector has added jobs," said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Andres Alcantar. "As always, TWC and our local workforce centers stand ready to provide quality services to help our customers take advantage of this steady growth." The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the lowest September unemployment rate in the state at 4.9 percent. The Amarillo MSA came in second at 6.0 percent, and the Odessa MSA third at 6.2 percent (not seasonally adjusted). -more- Texas Workforce Commission o 512-463-8942 o http://www.texasworkforce.org o Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Relay Texas: 1-800-735-2988 (TDD) or 711 (Voice) 2-2-2-2 LMCI Please note that the unemployment estimates for the United States and Texas in this chart are "Not Seasonally Adjusted" for purposes of comparison to the "Not Seasonally Adjusted" Metropolitan Statistical Area data. Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands) C.L.F. United States State of Texas Abilene Amarillo Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Beaumont-Port Arthur Brownsville-Harlingen College Station-Bryan Corpus Christi Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Dallas-Plano-Irving MD Fort Worth-Arlington MD El Paso Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Laredo Longview Lubbock McAllen-Edinburg-Mission Midland Odessa San Angelo San Antonio-New Braunfels Sherman-Denison Texarkana Tyler Victoria Waco Wichita Falls 154,022.0 12,371.9 79.8 134.1 928.7 190.6 159.5 119.1 217.6 3,285.0 2,198.7 1,086.4 324.7 2,969.5 168.6 97.9 112.9 150.1 310.8 79.4 74.8 55.0 1,002.4 58.2 66.1 103.3 61.4 117.7 71.7 September 2011 Emp. Unemp. 140,502.0 11,330.3 74.1 126.1 859.5 168.9 139.7 111.4 200.0 3,011.0 2,014.1 996.9 290.2 2,714.6 153.8 89.9 104.7 140.3 272.6 75.5 70.2 51.3 922.8 53.1 60.9 94.7 57.0 108.3 66.3 13,520.0 1,041.6 5.7 8.0 69.2 21.7 19.8 7.7 17.6 274.0 184.6 89.5 34.5 254.9 14.8 8.0 8.2 9.8 38.2 3.9 4.6 3.7 79.6 5.1 5.2 8.6 4.4 9.4 5.4 Rate 8.8 8.4 7.2 6.0 7.4 11.4 12.4 6.5 8.1 8.3 8.4 8.2 10.6 8.6 8.8 8.2 7.3 6.5 12.3 4.9 6.2 6.8 7.9 8.8 7.8 8.3 7.1 8.0 7.6 C.L.F. 154,344.0 12,316.9 79.5 133.6 921.7 189.8 159.3 113.4 216.3 3,267.7 2,186.0 1,081.6 322.1 2,955.2 169.3 96.0 114.1 149.4 309.6 79.1 74.1 55.5 1,001.9 58.2 64.9 102.7 61.8 118.8 72.6 August 2011 Emp. Unemp. 140,335.0 11,276.3 73.8 125.7 853.8 167.9 139.4 105.6 198.6 2,994.5 2,002.3 992.1 287.9 2,701.1 154.8 87.9 105.9 139.5 270.5 75.3 69.3 51.8 923.1 53.1 59.7 94.2 57.4 109.2 67.1 14,008.0 1,040.6 5.7 7.9 67.9 21.9 19.9 7.8 17.7 273.2 183.7 89.5 34.2 254.1 14.5 8.1 8.2 9.9 39.1 3.8 4.8 3.7 78.8 5.1 5.2 8.5 4.4 9.6 5.5 Rate 9.1 8.4 7.2 5.9 7.4 11.6 12.5 6.9 8.2 8.4 8.4 8.3 10.6 8.6 8.6 8.5 7.2 6.6 12.6 4.8 6.5 6.7 7.9 8.8 8.0 8.3 7.1 8.1 7.6 C.L.F. 153,854.0 12,183.4 83.4 132.5 912.9 187.7 157.5 116.2 211.8 3,226.8 2,155.7 1,071.0 320.0 2,909.8 168.6 95.4 112.3 147.4 304.0 78.3 73.6 54.9 990.5 57.3 65.1 101.7 59.0 116.0 73.2 September 2010 Emp. Unemp. 139,715.0 11,206.0 78.0 125.2 849.2 168.0 140.1 109.1 194.9 2,965.2 1,980.5 984.7 289.3 2,668.3 155.7 87.6 104.2 138.4 268.8 74.4 68.3 51.5 918.2 52.6 60.4 94.0 54.7 107.6 67.8 14,140.0 977.4 5.4 7.3 63.7 19.7 17.4 7.1 16.9 261.6 175.2 86.3 30.7 241.5 12.9 7.8 8.1 9.0 35.2 3.9 5.3 3.4 72.3 4.7 4.7 7.7 4.3 8.4 5.4 Rate 9.2 8.0 6.4 5.5 7.0 10.5 11.1 6.1 8.0 8.1 8.1 8.1 9.6 8.3 7.6 8.1 7.2 6.1 11.6 5.0 7.2 6.3 7.3 8.3 7.2 7.6 7.3 7.2 7.4 TEXAS NONAGRICULTURAL WAGE AND SALARY EMPLOYMENT + SEASONALLY ADJUSTED Aug. '11 to Sep. '11 INDUSTRY TITLE Total Nonagricultural Total Nongovernment** Goods-Producing Mining and Logging Construction Manufacturing Service-Providing Trade, Transportation, and Utilities Information Financial Activities Professional and Business Services Education and Health Services Leisure and Hospitality Other Services Government Sep. 2011* 10,610,100 8,793,400 249,900 601,300 831,100 2,101,000 188,100 632,400 1,352,300 1,431,300 1,033,300 372,700 1,816,700 Aug. 2011 10,594,700 8,766,900 246,500 594,100 834,100 2,100,800 187,100 631,200 1,333,900 1,428,800 1,039,800 370,600 1,827,800 Sep. 2010 10,361,600 8,511,200 211,100 565,900 812,600 2,056,400 193,800 620,800 1,284,100 1,393,600 1,011,800 361,100 1,850,400 Absolute Change 15,400 26,500 3,400 7,200 -3,000 200 1,000 1,200 18,400 2,500 -6,500 2,100 -11,100 Percent Change 0.1 0.3 1.4 1.2 -0.4 0.0 0.5 0.2 1.4 0.2 -0.6 0.6 -0.6 Sep. '10 to Sep. '11 Absolute Change 248,500 282,200 38,800 35,400 18,500 44,600 -5,700 11,600 68,200 37,700 21,500 11,600 -33,700 Percent Change 2.4 3.3 18.4 6.3 2.3 2.2 -2.9 1.9 5.3 2.7 2.1 3.2 -1.8 ### The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call (512) 463-8556 or visit www.texasworkforce.org.