Jobless numbers drop in Abilene, Big Country

ABILENE – Unemployment rates fell in Abilene and all 23 counties comprising the Big Country region, the Texas Workforce Commission said. The decrease followed a January rise mostly attributed to seasonal job layoffs.

A little more than 80,000 people in the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area — made up of Taylor, Jones and Callahan counties — had jobs in February, and the area had a 5.1 percent unemployment rate, down from 5.4 in January. It was 5.6 percent in February 2012.

Abilene had 5.1 percent jobless rate in February, down from 5.5 in January. The current rate is below the state unemployment rate, 6.4 percent, and well below the national average for February, 7.7 percent.

Taylor County’s February jobless rate also went down, to 5 percent from 5.3 in January.

Statewide, Texas continued its upward trend in job growth with the addition of 80,600 jobs in February, totaling 359,800 nonfarm jobs added over the year. This is the 74th consecutive month that Texas unemployment rate has been below the national rate.

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