LMI Press Release
February unemployment rate for Southeast Texas decreases to 5.5 percent
BEAUMONT, Texas – The Southeast Texas unadjusted unemployment rate for February 2026 decreased to 5.5 percent, down 0.5 percent from January’s rate of 6.0 percent, based on data released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The total civilian labor force totals 184,701, which includes 174,452 employed and 10,249 unemployed. In addition, over 7,600 job openings from different industries were available*.
*Due to a delayed schedule, TWC data will not be current until May.
Area |
Feb 2026 |
Jan 2026 |
Feb 2025 |
| Texas | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.3% |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | 5.5% | 6.0% | 5.3% |
| Southeast Texas | 5.5% | 6.0% | 5.3% |
| Hardin County | 4.5% | 4.8% | 4.6% |
| Jefferson County | 6.0% | 6.5% | 5.7% |
| Orange County | 4.9% | 5.2% | 4.6% |
| Newton County | 6.3% | 6.9% | 5.9% |
| Beaumont | 5.2% | 5.5% | 5.2% |
| Port Arthur | 8.8% | 9.9% | 7.7% |
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 | 200 | |
| Government | -100 | |
| Leisure and Hospitality | -100 |
Source: Current Employment Statistics (CES)/Texas Workforce Commission
February 2026 unemployment rates for the Southeast Texas counties are as follows**:
Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)/Texas Workforce Commission
-
- Jefferson; 6.0 percent (decrease of 0.5 from January; increase of 0.3 from February 2025)
- Orange: 4.9 percent (decrease of 0.3 from January; increase of 0.3 from February 2025)
- Hardin: 4.5 percent (decrease of 0.3 January; decrease of 0.1 from February 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.
Stay Updated with Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas
Subscribe to Workforce Solutions’ podcast – Southeast Texas Works! on Google, Apple, Spotify, or Stitcher to hear the latest on economic development, job projections, funding for small businesses, and how to keep pace with workforce training requirements. The podcast is also available on our website at https://setworks.org/podcasts/.
Employers can subscribe to the Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas newsletter by visiting https://newsletter.setworks.org/ and clicking the Subscribe to Newsletter.
Data for March 2026 will be released on Friday, May 1st.
*Source: Lightcast – Online job postings active from 02/01/2026 to 02/28/2026
**All unemployment rates listed are not seasonally adjusted and are subject to change