Texas jobless claims increase as labor market recovery remains shaky

​​​​​​COLLEGE STATION – ​Initial unemployment insurance claims in Texas increased to over 68,400 last week, reverting the downward trend observed in the five previous weeks.

From March 21 to Aug. 15, around 3.3 million claims were filed in Texas, according to data from the U.​S. Department of Labor (DOL). 

Continuing unemployment claims decreased the week of Aug. 8 to 1.09 million.

“The increase in claims above 60,000 signals the labor market recovery remains shaky and has a long road ahead,” said Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Luis Torres. 

Fewer people in Texas’ major and border metros filed for initial unemployment during the first full week without the additional $600 weekly from the federal government, continuing the downward trend observed in the past four weeks.

Using data from the DOL and the Employment and Training Administration, the Center estimates that from March 21 to Aug. 8,  over 735,000 seasonally adjusted claims were filed in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land. The metro continues to lead the state in total number of claims.

In the past 21 weeks, an estimated 701,600 claims were filed in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, 223,600 in San Antonio-Braunfels, and 194,400 in Austin-Round Rock. 

Along the border, an estimated 85,800 claims were filed in McAllen, 73,700 in El Paso, 37,800 in Brownsville, and 22,700 in Laredo.

The number of initial claims in the state’s metros is expected to increase the week ending Aug. 15, mirroring the increase seen in the state’s overall numbers.

Administrative/support/waste management/remediation services, retail trade, accommodation and food services, and healthcare/social assistance were the sectors with the biggest unemployment claims through the week ending Aug. 8.

​​Almost 57.4 million Americans have filed initial unemployment claims in the past 22 weeks. New claims increased last week after registering two consecutive​ weeks of decreases.