Texas unemployment stays at 6.4 percent

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — State officials say the Texas unemployment rate for March was unchanged from the prior month, remaining at 6.4 percent. The Texas Workforce Commission said Friday the rate is down from the 7 percent unemployment figure from a year ago. The commission also readjusted the number of jobs the state has added over the past year. It reported in March the number was about 359,800 but corrected it downward to 329,500. The state unemployment rate remains below the national rate of 7.6 percent. Employment in the leisure and hospitality industry has grown by 67,000 jobs over the past year, more than any other industry in the state. Midland recorded the lowest unemployment rate for March at 3.1 percent. The highest rate was in the McAllen-Mission area at 10.6 percent.