Local Weather Forecast
Today: Current:87	Saturday: 94/74	Sunday: 98/76
Complete Forecast for  Jul 25 2008

From Staff, Wire Reports

Tyler posted a 95.5 percent February employment rate, the same rate it posted in February 2007, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Thursday.

In January, the local rate was 95.1 percent.

Statewide, the rate rose to 95.9 percent, with employers adding 13,500 jobs in February, up from a revised gain of 10,300 the previous month. It marked the 10th consecutive month of job growth in the state.

The national employment rate for February was 95.2 percent, up from 95.1 percent in January.

Tyler saw 300 jobs added in February, in leisure and hospitality, government and other services. It lost 100 jobs in trade, transportation and utilities.

The TWC reported the Tyler metropolitan statistical area has increased by 900 jobs since February 2007.

Longview's employment rate rose to 96.2 percent, up from 95.8 percent the previous month and in February 2007.

The Longview MSA added 200 jobs in mining and construction and 100 jobs each in the education and health services category and the leisure and hospitality category.

According to the TWC, several industries experienced growth of more than 100 jobs.

As Texas employers added jobs, initial claims for unemployment also dropped to 52,423 in February.

The highest employment rate in the state continued to be in Midland, at 97.4 percent. Midland has been helped by an increase in oil and gas exploration and production.

The lowest employment rate, 93.5 percent, again occurred in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area.

The statewide numbers were adjusted for seasonal trends in hiring and firing, which most economists believe gives a better picture of the job market. Local figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Employers in trade, transportation and utilities added 6,600 jobs in February, the largest gain in that sector since 2000.

The leisure and hospitality sector reported a gain of 4,900 positions.