January Jobless Rate in Texas Falls to 5.7 Percent

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas unemployment rate slipped to 5.7 percent in January and became the state's lowest jobless figure since November 2008.

The Texas Workforce Commission on Friday reported the seasonally adjusted rate for January is the sixth straight month of declines in statewide unemployment.

The nationwide jobless rate stood at 6.6 percent in January.

TWC officials say Texas employers expanded their payrolls in January by adding 33,900 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs, for a total of 322,400 jobs added over the year.

The Midland area had the state's lowest jobless rate in January at 2.9 percent. The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area had the highest jobless rate in Texas at 10.5 percent.

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Online: http://www.twc.state.tx.us/