AUSTN, Texas (AP) — Texas’ unemployment rate fell slightly in June to 4.2 percent, down from 4.3 percent in May, a state agency reported Friday.
The Texas Workforce Commission said this marks the third month this year that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped to 4.2 percent, the lowest rate of unemployment for the state since July 2007. Texas continued to be below the national unemployment rate, which was at 5.3 percent.
The state added 16,700 nonagricultural jobs in June, marking Texas’ third straight month of seasonally adjusted job growth. Texas has added jobs in 56 of the last 57 months, including a total of 53,600 positions in the first half of 2015.
“Texas employers continue to create employment opportunities, which is great news for the state and its workforce,” Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Andres Alcantar said.
The Amarillo area had the lowest unemployment rate in June, at 3.2 percent. The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area had the highest rate last month, with 7.8 percent.
June’s job gains in the service-providing industries were led by the education and health services industry, which added 10,100 positions. Professional and business services added 8,300 jobs in June. Gains in the goods-producing industries were centered in mining and logging, which saw an increase of 2,700 jobs during the month.