Texas jobless rate improves to 4.3 percent

AUSTIN—The Texas unemployment rate improved to 4.3 percent in July to mirror the national jobless figure, the Texas Workforce Commission announced Friday.

Texas had its third straight month of declining statewide unemployment. The June unemployment rate for Texas was 4.6 percent. Amarillo had the lowest jobless rate in Texas last month at 3.1 percent, according to a commission statement . The McAllenEdinburg-Mission area had the state’s highest unemployment at 7.7 percent. The Texas economy expanded for the 13th consecutive month with the addition of 19,600 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in July, state labor officials said.

“Texas employers created 293,400 jobs over the past year and the dynamic Texas economy continues to provide competitive advantages to employers across the state,” said commission Chairman Andres Alcantar.

The leisure and hospitality industry recorded the largest private-industry gain over the month with 7,000 jobs added. Financial activities expanded by 5,200 jobs and recorded a 3.6 percent annual growth rate — the industry’s highest since August 2013, according to the commission.

“Texas employers continue to keep our state’s economy strong with private-sector employment expanding over the year with overall job growth of 266,000 including 20,500 jobs added in July,” said Commissioner Ruth Hughs.