Texas unemployment rate hits 12.8 percent in April

​AUSTIN – Over the past month, the Texas economy lost nearly 1.3 million jobs due to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. 

The state’s se​asonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 12.8 percent in April, below the national average of 14.7 percent. 

Before the pandemic, the state’s job growth rate had remained above 2 percent for around two years. 

Amarillo had the lowest nonseasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the state at 8.8 percent. Beaumont-Port Arthur had the highest at 18.1 percent.

All employment sectors had seasonally adjusted job losses since April 2019 except for the financial services industry, which grew 0.5 percent. Leisure and hospitality had the largest job loss with employment falling 39.3 percent. 

The Real Estate Center has a wealth of economic information online for free.