JOBLESS RATE DROPS

  

The jobless rate in Washington County fell during the month of April.

The unemployment rate of 4.4-percent is the lowest the rate has been in nearly 18 months.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, Last month’s labor force was 15,016, with 665 unemployed.

The rate is the county’s lowest since it was 4.2 percent in January of 2015.

The jobless rate one year ago was 4.7 percent.  The March unemployment rate was 5.3 percent.

Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5 percent.

April jobless rates in area counties:  Austin County — 4.7 percent, down 7-tenths; Brazos County — 3 percent, down 4-tenths; Burleson County — 4.2 percent, down 5-tenths; Fayette County — 3.3 percent, down 6-tenths; Grimes County — 6 percent, down 7-tenths; Lee County — 3.6 percent, down 6-tenths, and Waller County — 5.1 percent, down 6-tenths.