LMI Press Release
March unemployment rate for Southeast Texas ticks down to 4.9 percent
BEAUMONT, Texas – The Southeast Texas unadjusted unemployment rate for March 2025 decreased to 4.9 percent, down 0.4 percent from February’s rate of 5.3 percent, based on data released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The total civilian labor force totals 185,432, which includes 176,284 employed and 9,148 unemployed. In addition, over 6,600 job openings from different industries were available*.
| wdt_ID | Area | Mar 2025 | Feb 2024 | Mar 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 4.0% | 4.3% | 3.9% |
| 2 | Beaumont-Port Arthur | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.0% |
| 3 | Southeast Texas | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.0% |
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | Hardin County | 4.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| 6 | Jefferson County | 5.3% | 5.8% | 5.3% |
| 7 | Orange County | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| 8 | Newton County | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.3% |
| 9 | ||||
| 10 | Beaumont | 5.0% | 5.3% | 4.8% |
| 11 | Port Arthur | 7.2% | 7.7% | 7.6% |
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 | Manufacturing | 300 | |
| 2 | Leisure and Hospitality | 200 | |
| 3 | Government | 200 | |
| 14 | Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 100 | |
| 16 | Mining, Logging and Construction | -100 | |
| 18 | Professional and Business Services | -100 |
Source: Current Employment Statistics (CES)/Texas Workforce Commission
Since March 2024, the year-over-year unemployment rate has remained relatively stable, and the local labor force has grown by 4,408 residents. March 2025 unemployment rates for the Southeast Texas counties are as follows**:
Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)/Texas Workforce Commission
-
- Jefferson; 5.3 percent (decrease of 0.5 from February; no change from March 2024)
- Orange: 4.3 percent (decrease of 0.3 from February; increase of 0.1 from March 2024)
- Hardin: 4.3 percent (decrease of 0.4 from February; increase of 0.1 from March 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 03/01/2025 to 03/31/2025
**All unemployment rates listed are not seasonally adjusted and are subject to change