Texas nonfarm employment rose 2 percent from November 2006 to November 2007 compared with a 1 percent annual growth rate for the nation as a whole.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 4.7 percent in November 2006 to 4.2 percent in November 2007.
Higher oil prices continue to help the state’s oil and natural gas industry. The state’s mining industry ranked first in job creation, followed by the leisure and hospitality industry, professional and business services, and financial activities industry.

All Texas metro areas except College Station–Bryan experienced positive employment growth rates from November 2006 to November 2007. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission ranked first in job creation followed by Austin–Round Rock, Lubbock, Midland, Tyler and Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown.

Midland had the lowest unemployment rate, followed by Amarillo, Lubbock, Odessa, College Station–Bryan, Abilene, and Austin–Round Rock.

Source: Real Estate Center