San Antonio unemployment drops to 5.3 percent in Dec.

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio MSA added jobs in December 2013, according to Workforce Solutions Alamo. The unemployment rate in the MSA stood at 5.3 percent in December, down from 5.6 percent in November. Total nonfarm employment in the San Antonio area increased by 3,000 jobs from November to December 2013.

Industries that added workers in December include:

•  construction grew by 400 jobs;
•  trade, transportation, utilities added 1,900 jobs;
•  leisure and hospitality gained 700 jobs;
•  education and health services increased 500 jobs;
•  financial activities grew by 500 jobs; and
•  government gained 200 jobs,

Among the sectors that gave up jobs on a month-to-month basis include the professional and business services industry, which lost 1,100 jobs.

Since December 2012, 6,200 jobs have been added in the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA.