More have jobs in city, county, state

Unemployment numbers continue to drop for San Marcos, Hays County and the state of Texas, with Hays County leading the way in October figures.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the county’s October jobless rate was 2.8 percent. That’s down a tick from September’s 2.9 percent but the same as October a year ago.

The county’s rate has steadily dropped or stayed the same for at least the last six years. In 2012, the annual rate was 5.8 percent, in 2013, 5.3 percent, 2014, 4.3 percent, 2015, 4.3 percent, 2016, 3.3 percent and 2017, 3.1 percent.

The city of San Marcos’ October unemployment rate was 3 percent, down slightly from 3.2 percent in September but up slightly from 2.9 percent in October 2017.

Looking back, the city’s annual jobless rate in 2012 was 6 percent, in 2013, 5.5 percent, in 2014, 4.3 percent, in 2015, 3.5 percent, in 2016, 3.6 percent and in 2017, 3.4 percent. 

For the state, October’s unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, down from 3.7 percent in September and in October 2017.

The state’s rate was 6.7 percent in 2012, in 2013 it was 6.3 percent, in 2014, 5.1 percent, in 2015, 4.4 percent, in 2016, 4.6 percent and in 2017, 4.3 percent.

Concerning numbers from last month, the oil fields of the Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area again brought in the state’s lowest jobless rate at 2.1 percent, followed by Odessa at 2.5 percent. The Amarillo MSA was 2.5 percent and Austin/Round Rock and College Station/Bryan were tied at 2. 7 percent.

The TWC says the state’s rate is now the lowest since 1976.