JOBLESS RATE RISES–WORKFORCE DROPS IN WASHINGTON CO.

  

The jobless rate in Washington County rose slightly in the month of January, while the job force fell to a 15-year low.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the unemployment rate in Washington County stood at 5.1-percent last month, 2-tenths of a percent increase over the December rate of 4.9-percent.  The January 2015 rate was 4.1-percent.

The job force in January of this year stood at 14,882 with 755 people officially unemployed.  That labor force is the lowest it’s been since February of 2001, when it stood at 14,789.

The state’s unemployment rate in January was 4.5-percent, down one-tenth from the December rate of 4.6.

The Austin County rate is up 3-tenths to 4.8-percent.

Brazos County’s rate is up 2-tenths to 3.3-percent.

In Burleson County their rate of 4.5-percent is up 1-tenth.

The rate in Fayette County rose 1-tenth to 3.4-percent.

Grimes County’s rate rose 3-tenths to 5.8-percent.

In Lee County the rate of 3.5-percent is up 1-tenth.

And, in Waller County, their rate rose 4-tenths to 5.2-percent.

Potter County had the state’s lowest level at 3.0-percent.  The highest rate in the state was in Hidalgo County at 8.1-percent.