Editor: Shannon Cottongame
August 30, 2023
Hill and Bosque county unemployment rates rose slightly in July, according to data released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) last week.
Hill County’s rate was reported at 4.2% for the month, up from 4% in June. In July, there were 794 unemployed Hill County residents out of a total civilian labor force of 18,894.
July’s rate is also higher than one year ago, when Hill County’s unemployment rate was reported at 3.8%.
The Bosque County rate was also up in July, when there were 346 unemployed individuals out of a total Bosque County labor force of 8,958. July’s rate of 3.9% was higher than both June’s rate of 3.4% and the July 2022 rate of 3.8%.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.1% in July. The Texas seasonally adjusted civilian labor force grew over the month to 15,078,400 in July.
Leisure and hospitality led job growth for all the major industries with 9,800 jobs added over the month. Manufacturing added 6,600 jobs, closely followed by private education and health services, which tacked on 6,400 positions.
Texas’ annual employment growth through July 2023 was stronger than the national rate in all but one of the 11 major industries, leisure and hospitality. That industry already recovered in Texas while employment remains below the pre-COVID threshold nationally.
Texas total nonfarm employment increased by 26,300 positions over the month to reach a 22nd consecutive series-high level at 13,969,100 jobs and achieved 29 consecutive months of growth. Since July 2022, Lone Star State employment grew by 441,700 positions—again, leading the nation in number of jobs added over the year.
TWC said that the number of employed persons also reached a new record high adding 34,800 people over the month to reach 14,464,700.
The Lakelander 