Jobs jump in Abilene: unemployment dips

ABILENE – The Abilene economy posted a modest gain in August 2013, the seventh straight monthly increase, according to Karr Ingham, creator of the Abilene Economic Index.

The index rose in August 2013 to 120.6, up from 120.4 in July 2013 and up 2.9 percent from the August 2012 index of 117.2. The index base is 100, set in January 2000. Rising numbers from month-to-month indicate economic growth.

Abilene had a 5.1 percent jobless rate for August 2013, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. An estimated 55,414 people in the city had jobs out of a labor force of 58,413. None of the data is seasonally adjusted.

A little over 80,000 people in the Abilene MSA, which is made up of Taylor, Jones and Callahan counties, had jobs in August 2013 out of a labor force of 84,373. The MSA had a 5 percent unemployment rate, down from 5.5 percent in July 2013.

Taylor County’s jobless rate also decreased in August 2013 to 4.9 percent from 5.3 percent in July 2013. About 3,402 people were out of work in the county in August.

For all Texas areas, see the Texas Workforce Commission.