UNEMPLOYMENT UP SLIGHTLY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

  

The unemployment rate in Washington County climbed slightly in the month of January, but was still considerably lower than one year ago.

January’s unemployment rate for Washington County was 4 percent, up a half percent from December.  However, it was a full point below the 5 percent unemployment rate in January of 2017.  In area counties, Brazos County had the lowest unemployment rate for January of 3 percent.  Fayette County came in at 3.1 percent.  Other counties include Lee County at 3.3 percent, Burleson County at 3.9 percent, Austin County at 4 percent, Waller County at 4.5 percent, and Grimes County with the highest unemployment rate of 4.7 percent.  But even Grimes County’s rate was much better than the rate in January of 2017 of 6.9 percent.