COLLEGE STATION – Weekly initial unemployment clams in Texas fell below 50,000 for the first time since the pandemic hit the economy.
During the week ending Sept. 19, Texas’ initial unemployment claims decreased for the second straight week to 48,500 claims.
That brings the total since March 21 to 3.5 million, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
The number of Texans who continue to claim unemployment insurance decreased the week of Sept. 12 to 941,200.
“The fall in both unemployment numbers indicates improvements in labor conditions, but much work must still be done,” said Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Luis Torres.
Fewer people in Texas’ major and border metros filed new unemployment claims during the week ending Sept. 12, matching the downward trend seen in the statewide numbers.
Using data from the DOL and the Employment and Training Administration, the Center has estimated unemployment claims for Texas’ major and border metros since March 21:
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Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, 806,700 claims;
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Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, 766,100 claims;
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San Antonio-New Braunfels, 244,000 claims;
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Austin-Round Rock, 207,900 claims;
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McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 94,300 claims;
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El Paso, 80,000 claims;
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Brownsville-Harlingen, 41,600 claims; and
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Laredo, 24,700 claims.
Retail trade, administrative/support/waste management/remediation services, construction, accommodation and food services, and healthcare and social assistance represented the sectors with the most unemployment claims.
Last week, new national unemployment claims increased to 870,300, bringing the 27-week total to nearly 62 million.
“This indicates that the labor market recovery is losing steam in other states,” Torres said.
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