COLLEGE STATION – Initial unemployment claims in Texas increased last week to almost 90,200 after decreasing the week prior.
From March 21 to June 27, nearly 2.7 million claims were filed in Texas, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
Continuing unemployment claims increased the week of June 20 to 1.26 million.
“The increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Texas is affecting the re-opening of the state’s economy,” said Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Luis Torres. “This is generating concerns that some people may be furloughed again and postponing companies’ plans to re-open and bring people back to work.
“Although it’s only one week of data, increases in both initial and continuing unemployment claims is concerning if COVID-19 cases continue to increase.”
The number of initial unemployment claims increased in Texas’ major and border metros (with the exception of El Paso) the week of June 20 compared with the previous week.
Using data from the DOL and the Employment and Training Administration, the Center estimates that from March 21 to June 20, over 585,700 seasonally adjusted claims were filed in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land.
Houston registered the largest accumulated number of initial unemployment claims by any Texas metro during that 14-week period.
Here are Center estimates for other metros during that timeline:
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Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, 581,800 claims;
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San Antonio-New Braunfels, 181,500 claims;
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Austin-Round Rock, 162,500 claims;
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McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 65,500 claims;
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El Paso, 61,000 claims;
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Brownsville-Harlingen, 29,000 claims; and
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Laredo, 18,200 claims.
From March 21 to June 20, over 13,100 unemployment claims were filed in College Station-Bryan. The number of claims increased in the week of June 20 compared with the week prior.
Administrative/support/waste management/remediation services, accommodation and food services, and retail trade represented the sectors with the biggest unemployment claims.
Almost 48.7 million Americans filed initial unemployment claims in the past 15 weeks. Those weekly claims numbers have continued to decline.
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