LMI Press Release
March unemployment rate for Southeast Texas decreases to 5.6 percent
BEAUMONT, Texas – The Southeast Texas unadjusted unemployment rate for March 2024 decreased to 5.6 percent, down 0.2 percent from February’s rate of 5.8 percent, according to data released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). This indicates that 5.6 percent of the workforce, a total of 9,373 people, in the three-county Southeast Texas region were engaged in seeking employment. In addition, over 6,000 job openings from different industries were available*.
| wdt_ID | Area | Mar 2024 | Feb 2024 | Mar 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.0% |
| 2 | Beaumont-Port Arthur | 5.7% | 5.9% | 6.0% |
| 3 | Southeast Texas | 5.6% | 5.8% | 6.0% |
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | Hardin County | 4.8% | 4.9% | 5.1% |
| 6 | Jefferson County | 6.0% | 6.1% | 6.4% |
| 7 | Orange County | 5.3% | 5.7% | 5.7% |
| 8 | Newton County | 7.0% | 7.1% | 6.8% |
| 9 | ||||
| 10 | Beaumont | 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 11 | Port Arthur | 8.1% | 7.8% | 8.9% |
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 | Government | 200 | |
| 2 | Leisure and Hospitality | 200 | |
| 3 | Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 100 | |
| 4 | Other Services | 100 | |
| 5 | Financial Activities | -100 | |
| 12 | Manufacturing | -100 | |
| 13 | Mining, Logging and Construction | -100 | |
| 14 | Private Education and Health Services | -100 | |
| 15 | Professional and Business Services | -100 |
Source: Current Employment Statistics (CES)/Texas Workforce Commission
Since March 2023, the unemployment rate has decreased by 0.4, and the local labor force has grown by 1,713 residents. The March 2024 unemployment rates for the Southeast Texas counties are as follows**:
- Jefferson; 6.0 percent (down by 0.1 in February; down by 0.4 from March 2023)
- Hardin: 4.8 percent (down by 0.1 in February; down by 0.3 from March 2023)
- Orange: 5.3 percent (down by 0.4 in February; down by 0.4 from March 2023)
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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