Scurry County’s unemployment rate dropped below 4 percent for the first time since May, according to figures released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) today.
The August unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, down from the July rate of 4.3 percent.
The statistics show that Scurry County had 8,938 people in the workforce during August and only 353 are considered unemployed.
In August 2014, when the unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, the county had 9,857 people in the workforce and 358 were unemployed.
The county’s unemployment rate is below both the state (4.1 percent) and national (5.1 percent) average.
Borden County, at 2.9 percent, has the lowest rate in the region, followed by Andrews and Garza counties, both at 3.1 percent. Mitchell County had the highest rate in the region at 5.5 percent.
Other county totals were Fisher, 3.7 percent; Nolan, 3.9 percent; Coke, 4.1 percent; Howard, 4.4 percent; and Dawson, 4.7 percent.
Leisure and hospitality led all major industries in Texas with an expansion of 5,900 jobs in August. The professional and business services industry added 4,000 positions over the month, and construction gained 3,200 jobs in August. Other services, which include religious and civic organizations, personal services and repair businesses, added 600 jobs in August.
“The increase in jobs for key industries in August, such as the addition of 3,200 positions in the construction industry, and the decline in the unemployment rate to the lowest point in 14 years, demonstrates the resilience and strength of the Texas economy,” said TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar.
The state’s overall seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs contracted by a net 13,700 positions in August following four consecutive months of employment increases, including a revised gain of 25,800 jobs in July.