LAREDO, TEXAS — The Laredo Metropolitan Statistical Area has seen a slight increase in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to 4.3 percent in May 2023. This represents an increase of 0.5 percent from the 3.8 percent reported in April. According to figures released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) on Friday, June 16, the South Texas seasonally adjusted civilian labor force reported was 124,907. Although the unemployment rate increased, the number of employed was 119,437.

Despite the slight increase in the area unemployment, the TWC report states that “Texas total nonfarm employment increased by 51,000 positions over the month—adding more jobs than any other state—to reach a 20th consecutive series-high job counts at 13,918,700 total nonfarm jobs and achieved 27 consecutive months of growth.”

“The employment numbers for the area and the state and country are back to pre-pandemic levels,” said Rogelio Treviño, Executive Director at Workforce Solutions for South Texas. “Our Labor force has also grown back to the same levels we were before the pandemic, so jobs are being filled, and employers continue to submit job orders which are all good signs for our economy.”

The three-county Workforce Solutions for South Texas (WSST) area of Jim Hogg, Webb, and Zapata counties reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.4 percent in May, which represents an increase of 0.5 percent compared to April, which was at 3.9 percent. The 4.4 percent unemployment rate in the South Texas area represented 5,470 residents seeking employment in May.

While the State of Texas reported a 4.1 percent unemployment rate, the national unemployment rate was reported at 3.4 percent, according to the TWC report.

Essential Jobs reported an increase in employment by industry, such as the Natural Resources & Mining (3.0%), Education & Health Services (3.7%), Manufacturing (1.8%), Trade, Transportation & Utilities (1.7%), Financial Activities 2.5%), Public Administration (0.1%), and Other Services (0.9%). However, the Construction, Information, Professional, and Business Services, and Leisure and Hospitality industries reported losses.

“The fluctuations in the unemployment numbers are usually seen at this time of the year (Jan. – May) as part of the labor force returns to school and is not seeking and applying for jobs; however, as we enter the summer months, we do expect to see an increase in summer opportunities and also an increase of people in the labor force which should lead to decreases in the unemployment rate,” said Treviño.

Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit texaslmi.com.

For those looking for a job, we invite them to visit our One-Stop center in Laredo located at 1406 Jacaman Road, Suite A. Customers can also give us a call at 956-794-6500 or send us a text message at (888) 984-4826. We are also available to help in Hebbronville and Zapata, Texas. Send us a text for more information. For a complete list of Hiring Events and Job Fairs, please visit https://southtexasworkforce.org/event/.

The Texas Labor Market & Career Information Data for June is scheduled to be released on Friday, July 21, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.