Employment still growing, but slowing

​​​COLLEGE STATION – ​The state gained 169,400 nonagricultural jobs from May 2015 to May 2016, an annual growth rate of 1.4 percent, lower than the nation’s growth rate of 1.7 percent. The nongovernment sector added 134,000 jobs, an annual growth rate of 1.3 percent compared with 1.9 percent for the nation’s private sector.

According to the Real Estate Center’s latest Monthly Review of the Texas Economy, the annual employment growth rate last month was lower than the corresponding growth rates in the past four months, suggesting that the state’s slow labor market recovery may be fragile.

Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4, the same as in May 2015. The nation’s rate decreased from 5.5 to 4.7 percent.

All Texas industries except mining and logging, manufacturing, and the transportation, warehousing, and utilities industry had more jobs than a year ago. Leisure and hospitality ranked first in job creation followed by education and health services, financial activities, and trade.

All Texas metro areas except Beaumont-Port Arthur, Longview, Midland, and Odessa had more jobs. Dallas-Plano-Irving ranked first in job creation followed by Austin-Round Rock, College Station-Bryan, Lubbock, and San Antonio-New Braunfels.

The state’s actual unemployment rate was 4.2 percent. Amarillo had the lowest unemployment rate, followed by Austin-Round Rock, Lubbock, College Station-Bryan, Dallas-Plano-Irving, and San Antonio-New Braunfels.