Abilene jobless rate falls

ABILENE – The October unemployment rate for Abilene was recorded at 5 percent, down from 5.1 percent in September, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. The current local rate is below the state unemployment rate, 6.3 percent, and well below the national average for October, 7.9 percent.

Nearly 81,000 in the Abilene metropolitan statistical area, which is made up of Taylor, Jones and Callahan counties, had jobs in October, and the area had a 4.9 percent unemployment rate, down from 5 percent in September.

Taylor County’s unemployment rate also decreased in October at 4.8 percent compared to 5 percent in September.

For more on workforce data, see the Texas Workforce Commission.