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Midland labor market remains strongMidland labor market remains stronghttps://www.recenter.tamu.edu/news/newstalk-texas/?Item=75972013-04-23T10:04:00Z2013-04-23T00:00:00Z

MIDLAND - Midland's unemployment rate in March dipped to 3.1 percent from 3.2 percent in February and 3.6 percent a year earlier.

Midland continued to report the state's lowest unemployment, followed by Odessa at 3.7 percent, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

Midland has also recorded the nation's lowest unemployment for three consecutive months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau's February data had Midland's 3.2 percent rate lower than second-place Burlington, Vt. among its 372 MSAs.

Midland and Odessa combined have added nearly 25,000 jobs over the past two years, according to Karr Ingham, Amarillo economist.

Midland's civilian labor force grew to 93,450, up from 93,154 in February and 87,565 from last March. Of that labor force, 90,536 were employed, up from 90,177 in February and 84,445 last March.

Midland added 600 jobs from February to March for a growth rate of 0.7 percent and added 5,800 jobs from March 2012 to March 2013 for a growth rate of 7.4 percent.

Midland's industrial composition remained steady with mining, logging and construction, which includes oil and gas activity, making up the largest chunk at 29 percent, according to Willie Taylor, CEO, Workforce Solutions Permian Basin. This sector added 300 jobs from February to March and has added 3,200 jobs over the last 12 months for a growth rate of 15.2 percent.

Education and health services and leisure and hospitality were the only other two sectors adding jobs from February to March. Over the past 12 months, only education and health services didn't add jobs, and information lost 200 jobs.

Trade, transportation and utilities posted the second-largest gain in jobs behind mining, logging and construction with 1,200 new jobs added, followed by leisure and hospitality with 700 new jobs.

For all Texas areas, see the Texas Workforce Commission's monthly report.

Midland Reporter-Telegram
Midland
Employment
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