| June 18, 2010
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown Metropolitan Statistical Area employment grew for the fourth consecutive month, gaining 20,200 jobs in May ’10, a 0.8% increase over April ‘10. Nearly half the growth, 9,500 jobs, occurred in Federal Government, presumably the hiring of Census workers, jobs that will disappear this summer. However, private sector employment grew by 10,800 in May and has grown by 31,000 since January, another sign that Houston’s economy is well into recovery. May’s employment report improved the 12-month loss to 22,000 jobs. As recently as December ’09 the 12-month loss exceeded 100,000 jobs.
May was a good month for Texas—every metro area added jobs. The 20,200 in Houston were the most in Texas. Dallas added 13,000 jobs (a 0.6 percent increase), Fort Worth added 6,500 jobs (0.8 percent), San Antonio added 3,400 jobs (0.4 percent), El Paso added 2,300 jobs (0.8 percent) and Austin added 2,000 jobs (up 0.3 percent).
Houston Industry Details
Mining and Logging (primarily oil and gas) added 900 jobs in May ‘10 and 1,300 over the past 12 months. Construction added 500 jobs, only the second month in the past 24 where employment has not fallen. Manufacturing added 1,100 jobs but remains 8,000 jobs below May ’09 employment levels. Wholesale Trade added 500 jobs but remains 4,000 below this time last year. Likewise, Retail added 1,200 jobs but is 1,400 below May ‘09.
Healthcare and social assistance continues to add jobs—800 in May ’10 and 9,900 over the past 12 months. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation added 2,100 jobs. Accommodation & Food Services added 2,300. Professional Services gained 800 jobs and would have gained more if not for the loss of 2,000 jobs in the Accounting, Tax Preparation, and Bookkeeping subsector, presumably workers let go after tax season.
Employment in several sectors—Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities, Information, Finance, and Real Estate Rental and Leasing, and Educational Services—was essentially flat in May.
Unemployment
Houston’s May unemployment rate stood at 8.3 percent and has dropped half a percentage point since January. The unemployment rate for Austin was 6.9 percent, for Dallas-Fort Worth, 8.1 percent, and for San Antonio 7.1 percent. McAllen had the highest unemployment rate in the state at 11.2 percent and Midland and Amarillo tied for the lowest at 5.4 percent. Texas’ unemployment rate stood at 8.0 percent and the United States’ at 9.3 percent. (All rates are not seasonally adjusted.)
Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research Department
Patrick Jankowski
Vice President, Research
pjankowski@houston.org
713-844-3616
Marycruz García
Research Analyst, Economics and Demographics
mgarcia@houston.org
713-844-3654 read more news |
