COLLEGE STATION – In the week ending May 16, nearly 130,800 initial unemployment insurance claims were filed in Texas. That brings the total since March 21 to 2.1 million, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
Unemployment claims fell for the fourth straight week after rebounding on April 18.
“These are still worrisome unemployment numbers, but there is some hope as the numbers continue to fall,” said Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Luis Torres.
The Center estimates the unemployment rate across the state could be as high as 18.7 percent in May.
Using data from the DOL and the Employment and Training Administration, the Center estimates that from March 21 to May 9 nearly 439,500 seasonally adjusted claims were filed in Dallas-Fort Worth. That is the highest of Texas’ major metros.
In Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, an estimated 425,800, 138,500, and 49,800 claims were filed during that time, respectively.
At the metro level, the Center estimates May’s unemployment rate could be 16.4 percent in Houston, 14.4 percent in San Antonio, 14.3 percent in DFW, and 7.1 percent in Austin.
Accommodation and food services, and administrative/support/waste management/remediation services, and retail trade represented the sectors with the biggest unemployment claims.
Nationwide, over 38.6 million unemployment claims have been filed since March 21. The Center estimates the U.S. employment rate could be 20.1 percent in May.
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