LMI Press Release
July unemployment rate for Southeast Texas decreases to 6.1 percent
BEAUMONT, Texas – The Southeast Texas unadjusted unemployment rate for July 2026 decreased slightly to 6.1 percent, down 0.1 percent from June’s rate of 6.2 percent, based on data released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The total civilian labor force totals 185,792, which includes 174,410 employed and 11,382 unemployed. In addition, over 5,600 job openings from different industries were available*.
Area |
July 2026 |
June 2026 |
July 2025 |
| Texas | 4.8% | 4.9% | 4.5% |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | 6.2% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| Southeast Texas | 6.1% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| Hardin County | 5.0% | 5.2% | 4.7% |
| Jefferson County | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.1% |
| Orange County | 5.6% | 5.7% | 4.9% |
| Newton County | 6.8% | 6.7% | 6.7% |
| Beaumont | 5.9% | 5.8% | 5.5% |
| Port Arthur | 9.6% | 9.6% | 9.0% |
Current Unemployment Statistics (CES) provided by TWC report industry sector job gains and losses. All gains and losses are shown in the table below.
Industry Sector |
Monthly Increases |
Monthly Decreases |
| Professional and Business Services | 100 | |
| Private Education and Health Services | 100 | |
| Government | -1,000 | |
| Information | -100 |
Source: Current Employment Statistics (CES)/Texas Workforce Commission
June 2026 unemployment rates for the Southeast Texas counties are as follows**:
Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)/Texas Workforce Commission
-
- Jefferson; 6.6 percent (no change from June; increase of 0.5 from July 2025)
- Orange: 5.6 percent (decrease of 0.1 from June; increase of 0.7 from July 2025)
- Hardin: 5.0 percent (decrease of 0.2 June; increase of 0.3 from July 2025)
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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Data for August 2026 will be released on Friday, September 18th.
*Source: Lightcast – Online job postings active from 07/01/2026 to 07/31/2026
**All unemployment rates listed are not seasonally adjusted and are subject to change