Texas unemployment rate drops to record low in November

HOUSTON, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The unemployment rate in the U.S. state of Texas fell in November to a record low in 40 years as the construction, health care and retail sectors helped boost jobs, authorities said Friday.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) said in a press release that the statewide jobless rate dropped to 3.8 percent, the lowest since 1976, and was on steady decline since March.

The state's economy added 54,500 jobs in November, and 330,600 over the past 12 months, realizing a 2.7-percent annual employment growth and 91months of consecutive job increase, according to the release.

Nine of the 11 major industries have recorded job increases in November, it said.

With regard to specific sectors, the construction sector added 8,200 positions, and the retail sector, 6,300. These increases are believed to be results of the repair work needed after Hurricane Harvey as well as the arrival of the Christmas holiday season.

Meanwhile, the education and health services sectors have seen an addition of 8,200 jobs, while 8,000 have been reported in the leisure and hospitality industry. Increases of varying degrees are also seen in manufacturing, trade, transportation and utilities, real estate, as well as local government.

In addition, oil companies in Texas, a major energy producer in the country, have hired some 32,800 new workers, according to the TWC data, exhibiting a remarkable improvement compared to last year when one third of oil workers in the state was laid off. Enditem