LMI Press Release
October unemployment rate for Southeast Texas ticks down to 5.8 percent
BEAUMONT, Texas – The Southeast Texas unadjusted unemployment rate for October 2024 decreased to 5.8 percent, down by 0.1 percent from September’s rate of 5.9 percent, according to data released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The total civilian labor force totals 169,726 which includes 159,942 employed and 9,784 unemployed. In addition, over 7,500 job openings from different industries were available*.
| wdt_ID | Area | Oct 2024 | Sep 2024 | Oct 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 4.1% | 4.1% | 3.7% |
| 2 | Beaumont-Port Arthur | 5.8% | 6.0% | 5.1% |
| 3 | Southeast Texas | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.1% |
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | Hardin County | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| 6 | Jefferson County | 6.1% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| 7 | Orange County | 5.3% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
| 8 | Newton County | 6.6% | 7.0% | 6.4% |
| 9 | ||||
| 10 | Beaumont | 5.9% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| 11 | Port Arthur | 7.7% | 8.8% | 6.6% |
Current Unemployment Statistics (CES) provided by TWC report industry sector job gains and losses. All gains and losses are shown in the table below.
| wdt_ID | Industry Sector | Monthly Increases | Monthly Decreases |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | 500 | |
| 2 | Mining, Logging and Construction | 500 | |
| 3 | Private Education and Health Services | 200 | |
| 14 | Leisure and Hospitality | 200 | |
| 16 | Professional and Business Services | 100 |
Source: Current Employment Statistics (CES)/Texas Workforce Commission
Since October 2023, the year-over-year unemployment rate has increased by 0.7 percent, and the local labor force has grown by 5,742 residents. October 2024 unemployment rates for the Southeast Texas counties are as follows**:
-
- Jefferson; 6.1 percent (down by 0.3 from September; up 0.7 from October 2023)
- Hardin: 4.8 percent (up by 0.1 from September; up by 0.4 from October 2023)
- Orange: 5.3 percent (down by 0.1 from September; up by 0.7 from October 2023)
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.
You can access the latest labor market data for the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Area on our dashboard, which includes information on job postings, skills demand and education, skills gaps, education pipeline trends, commuting patterns, and home values.
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*Source: Lightcast – Online job postings active from 10/01/2024 to 10/31/2024
**All unemployment rates listed are not seasonally adjusted and are subject to change