Houston adds most jobs in Texas

HOUSTON – The Houston metropolitan area added 89,500 net new jobs, a 3.5 percent annual increase, in the 12 months ending August 2012, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. The private sector added jobs 95,400, a 4.3 percent annual increase, during the same time frame.

Mining and logging added 6,700 jobs, a 7.5 percent annual increase, over the past 12 months.

Manufacturing added 5,700 jobs, the gain of 6,900 jobs in durables manufacturing more than offsetting a loss of 1,200 jobs in non-durables.

Houston’s August unemployment rate was 7.0 percent, down from 8.4 percent in August 2011. Texas’ unemployment rate was 7.0 percent, decreasing from 8.2 percent the last August. The U.S. rate was 8.2 percent, a drop from 9.1 percent past July.