Unemployment rate ‘on a Mission’: lowest in 8 years

​​​​MISSION – The City of Mission recorded its lowest unemployment rate for the month of August in eight years and shows signs of dropping even lower, according to the latest figures provided by the Texas Workforce Commission​.

Mission’s jobless rate dropped to 6.1 percent — the lowest since 2007 — as unemployment has decreased steadily since it rose to over 10 percent in 2010 in the middle of the recession. 

Meanwhile, Mission’s overall employment has increased with 30,550 people working in August, according the Workforce Commission.

The 6.1 percent unemployment for August is lower than July’s 6.4 percent and still better than the 7.3 percent unemployment rate in August 2014.

"Dropping by nearly a point over last year and coming down even further from July is an indication that we are doing something right, but it also suggests that businesses continue to grow and hire more personnel," said Alex Meade, Mission Economic Development CEO.

Mission’s unemployment rate is lower than the combined McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area’s 7.9 percent. However, the county’s rate is one of the lowest in years.

In addition, Mission could see a further decline next month — as the jobless rate typically drops by half a point from August to September — perhaps even down to the mid 5 percent range. ​