REGIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN OCTOBER RANGE FROM INCREASES TO NO CHANGE

  

Unemployment trends from September to October varied around the area, with some counties reporting an increase in jobless rates and others staying the same.

Washington County’s unemployment rate rose from 3.8 percent in September to 3.9 percent last month, according to data from the Texas Workforce Commission.  

The amount of unemployed residents grew from 632 in September to 650 in October.

Total employment numbers and the overall civilian labor force both fell over that timeframe.  Employment dropped from 16,103 to 15,917, while the labor force decreased from 16,735 to 16,567.

In October 2023, the county’s unemployment rate came in at 3.6 percent, with 580 people out of work.

The state’s adjusted unemployment rate stayed the same from September to October, at 4.1 percent.

Surrounding counties’ jobless rates for the month of October include:

• Austin County – 3.8 percent, no difference from September.
• Brazos County – 3.1 percent, unchanged from September.
• Burleson County – 3.7 percent, up from 3.6 percent.
• Fayette County – 3.5 percent, up from 3.2 percent.
• Grimes County – 4.3 percent, up from 4.1 percent.
• Lee County – 3.5 percent, up from 3.2 percent.
• Waller County – 5.1 percent, holding steady from September.