Land of Opportunity
Texas pride: State unemployment rate falls to lowest level since 2008
For the sixth straight month, Texas unemployment rates are declining. According to the latest figures from the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas' unemployment rate fell to 5.7 percent in January; it was 6 percent in December.
The jobless rate in the Lone Star State is now at the lowest level since the recession started in November 2008.
Meanwhile, the national jobless rate sits at 6.6 percent. Texas Gov. Rick Perry credited the state's low taxes, "effective and predictable" regulations, fair courts and accountable schools for the strong economic report.
"Texas has been the national epicenter for job creation for more than a decade, and today's numbers indicate we're not slowing down anytime soon," Perry said in a statement. "While Washington is unable to significantly move the needle on unemployment, in Texas we free job creators to pursue success, which means more good-paying jobs for more Texans."
The Texas Workforce Commission calculated 33,900 additional jobs in January, bringing the 12-month state total to 322,400 new jobs. A recent survey confirms that Texas is a great place for job seekers, as Lone Star cities claimed half of the spots in the list of top 10 employment markets.