New Texas unemployment claims decrease as state tries to recover

​​COLLEGE STATION – Initial unemployment insurance claims in Texas decreased to 95,600 last week as overall business activity remained in recovery mode. 

From March 21 to July 11, nearly 2.9 million claims were filed in Texas, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). 

Continuing unemployment claims increased the week of July 4 to 1.3 million as G​overnor Greg Abbott closed bars and scaled back restaurant capacity amid an increase in COVID-19 cases.

"The resurgence in new COVID-19 cases is concerning, especially if it leads to a reversal in economic activity, which would exacerbate already weak labor-market conditions," said Real Estate Center Research Associate Paige Silva.

Using data from the DOL and the Employment and Training Administration, the Center estimates that from March 21 to July 4, nearly 638,800 seasonally adjusted claims were filed in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land. The metro led the state in weekly number of claims for 12 consecutive weeks. 

Since March 21, an estimated 616,500, 197,000, and 173,300 claims were filed in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, San Antonio-New Braunfels, and Austin-Round Rock, respectively. 

Along the border, an estimated 72,600, 65,100, 32,100, and 19,900 claims were filed in McAllen, El Paso, Brownsville, and Laredo, respectively. ​

New initial unemployment claims decreased the week of July 4 in all of Texas’ major and border metros except for DFW as new COVID-19 cases increased.​

Accommodation and food services, administrative/support/waste management/remediation services, and retail trade remained the sectors with the biggest unemployment claims.

Almost 51.3 million Americans have filed initial unemployment claims in the past 17 weeks, but those weekly claims numbers have declined since early April. 

National continued claims also extended a downward trend, sinking to 17.3 million the week of July 4.​

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