Dip in El Paso unemployment, sweeter than summertime double dip of ice cream

​​EL PASO – El Paso County’s unemployment rate dipped to 4.9 percent in April 2016 as area job growth remained strong, new data show.

The local unemployment rate was 5 percent in March 2016, and 5.3 percent in April 2015, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas​.

The local rate remained at the same level as the national rate, but continued to be above the Texas rate, which was 4.4 percent in April 2016.

El Paso County added an estimated 1,900 jobs in April, and an estimated 8,900 jobs since April 2015, for an annual gain of 3 percent, according to the Texas Workforce Commission​.

The strongest job gains for April and for the last 12 months were in the leisure and hospitality sector, which includes hotels and restaurants; the retail sector; and the health-services sector.