LMI Press Release
April unemployment rate for Southeast Texas decreases to 4.6 percent
BEAUMONT, Texas – The Southeast Texas unadjusted unemployment rate for April 2025 decreased to 4.6 percent, down 0.3 percent from March’s rate of 4.9 percent, based on data released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The total civilian labor force totals 186,173, which includes 177,630 employed and 8,543 unemployed. In addition, over 9,300 job openings from different industries were available*.
| wdt_ID | Area | Apr 2025 | Mar 2024 | Apr 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 3.7% | 4.0% | 3.6% |
| 2 | Beaumont-Port Arthur | 4.6% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| 3 | Southeast Texas | 4.6% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | Hardin County | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.1% |
| 6 | Jefferson County | 5.0% | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| 7 | Orange County | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.1% |
| 8 | Newton County | 5.5% | 5.9% | 6.3% |
| 9 | ||||
| 10 | Beaumont | 4.7% | 5.0% | 4.6% |
| 11 | Port Arthur | 6.9% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
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 | Mining, Logging and Construction | 200 | |
| 2 | Leisure and Hospitality | 200 | |
| 3 | Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 100 | |
| 14 | Professional and Business Services | 100 | |
| 16 | Private Education and Health Services | 100 | |
| 18 | Manufacturing | -100 |
Source: Current Employment Statistics (CES)/Texas Workforce Commission
Since April 2024, the year-over-year unemployment rate for the Southeast Texas WDA has decreased by 0.2 percent, and the local labor force has grown by 5,011 residents. April 2025 unemployment rates for the Southeast Texas counties are as follows**:
Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)/Texas Workforce Commission
-
- Jefferson; 5.0 percent (decrease of 0.3 from March; decrease of 0.3 from April 2024)
- Orange: 3.9 percent (decrease of 0.4 from March; decrease of 0.2 from April 2024)
- Hardin: 3.9 percent (decrease of 0.4 from March; decrease of 0.2 from April 2024)
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 available for the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Area and even download raw data and graphs straight from the dashboard. In addition to the latest labor market statistics, the dashboard also 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 04/01/2025 to 04/30/2025
**All unemployment rates listed are not seasonally adjusted and are subject to change