JOBLESS RATE IN WASHINGTON CO. UP SLIGHTLY
While the state’s unemployment rate stayed the same through December, Washington County’s rose slightly.
According to figures from the Texas Workforce Commission, Washington County saw its jobless rate increase to 3.6 percent last month, up from 3.4 percent in November.
The total labor force in the county last month was 14,631, with unemployment at 521. November had 14,633 in the workforce, with 503 jobless.
The unemployment rate was the same in December of 2017 and 2018. The workforce in December of 2017 totaled 14,501, with 523 unemployed.
The state’s unemployment rate stayed at 3.7 percent in December. The rate has remained at a historic 43-year low since October of 2018.
The Texas economy added 38,000 seasonally adjusted non-farm positions in December. Over the course of last year, the state added 391,800 jobs, as non-farm employment hit a new high of 12,744,100.
The December jobless rates for surrounding counties include:
- Austin County – 3.4 percent, up two tenths from November.
- Brazos County – 2.6 percent, up one-tenth.
- Burleson County – 3.1 percent, unchanged from November.
- Fayette County – 2.6 percent, also unchanged.
- Grimes County – 3.6 percent, up one-tenth.
- Lee County – 2.9 percent, also up one-tenth.
- Waller County – 3.8 percent, the same from November.