LMI Press Release
February unemployment rate for Southeast Texas ticks down to 5.3 percent
BEAUMONT, Texas – The Southeast Texas unadjusted unemployment rate for February 2025 slightly decreased to 5.3 percent, down by 0.1 percent from January’s rate of 5.4 percent, based on data released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The total civilian labor force totals 185,667, which includes 175,736 employed and 9,931 unemployed. In addition, over 6,800 job openings from different industries were available*.
| wdt_ID | Area | Feb 2025 | Jan 2024 | Feb 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.2% |
| 2 | Beaumont-Port Arthur | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| 3 | Southeast Texas | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | Hardin County | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| 6 | Jefferson County | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.5% |
| 7 | Orange County | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| 8 | Newton County | 6.0% | 6.2% | 6.4% |
| 9 | ||||
| 10 | Beaumont | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| 11 | Port Arthur | 7.8% | 8.7% | 7.4% |
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 | Leisure and Hospitality | 400 | |
| 2 | Mining, Logging and Construction | 200 | |
| 3 | Professional and Business Services | 100 | |
| 14 | Other Services | 100 | |
| 16 | Government | -200 | |
| 18 | Manufacturing | -100 | |
| 19 | Private Education and Health Services | -100 | |
| 20 | Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | -100 |
Source: Current Employment Statistics (CES)/Texas Workforce Commission
Since February 2024, the year-over-year unemployment rate hasn’t seen significant change, and the local labor force has grown by 5,419 residents. February 2025 unemployment rates for the Southeast Texas counties are as follows**:
-
- Jefferson; 5.8 percent (decrease of 0.1 from January; increase of 0.3 from February 2024)
- Orange: 4.6 percent (decrease of 0.1 from January; decrease of 0.2 from February 2024)
- Hardin: 4.7 percent (increase of 0.2 from January; no change from February 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 02/01/2025 to 02/28/2025
**All unemployment rates listed are not seasonally adjusted and are subject to change