Texas employment recovery continues

​​​​​COLLEGE STATION – ​Initial unemployment insurance claims in Texas decreased to around 66,600 last week, marking the fourth consecutive week of declines.

From March 21 to Aug. 1, around 3.15 million claims were filed in Texas, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). 

Continuing unemployment claims decreased the week of July 25 to 1.17 million.

"The drop in both Texas’ jobless initial claims and continuing claims suggests the jobs recovery continues," said Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Luis Torres. "Going forward, better health outcomes are needed to achieve a sustained and continued ​recovery."

All of Texas’ major and border metros enjoyed a drop in both new and continuing unemployment claims. 

Using data from the DOL and the Employment and Training Administration, the Center estimates that from March 21 to July 25, nearly 705,300 seasonally adjusted claims were filed in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land. The metro continues to lead the state in total number of claims.

In the past 19 weeks, an estimated 677,300 claims were filed in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, 215,800 in San Antonio-Braunfels, and 186,700 in Austin-Round Rock. 

Along the border, an estimated 82,100 claims were filed in McAllen, 71,000 in El Paso, 36,200 in Brownsville, and 21,800 in Laredo.

A​​ccommodation and food services, administrative/support/waste management/remediation services, healthcare/social assistance and retail trade r​emained the sectors with the biggest unemployment claims through the week ending July 25.

​​Almost 55.3 million Americans have filed initial unemployment claims in the past 20 weeks. New claims declined last week after registering two consecutive​ weeks of increases.