Texas added 44,100 jobs in January, but unemployment rate was flat

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Dallas Morning News

By BRENDAN CASE
Staff Writer
[email protected]
Published 10 March 2011 09:59 AM

The Texas job market got off to a positive start for the year, as employers added 44,100 jobs in January, the most since May of last year, the Texas Workforce Commission said Thursday.

The state unemployment rate remained at 8.3 percent, unchanged from the previous month. The national average was 9 percent in January, and it edged down to 8.9 percent last month.
....

Texas gained 15,800 jobs in trade, transportation and utilities, a category that includes the retail business. Other employment categories with expanding payrolls included education and health services, with 7,600 positions; government, with 5,500; and construction, with 3,700
....

Dana Johnson, chief economist of Comerica Inc., the Dallas-based financial services company, pointed to manufacturing and energy as significant engines of economic growth in Texas. The state gained 5,600 manufacturing jobs in January, plus 4,000 in mining and logging, which includes oil and gas extraction.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/business/headlines/20110310-texas-added-44100-jobs-in-january-but-unemployment-rate-was-flat.ece

[AnneD]

1. Just wait until....

all the lay offs in education start in late March , early April.

[RevStPatrick]

6. My friend who works for the Irving school district...

was told yesterday that he will be laid off.
His last paycheck will be in August.

[DailyGrind]

2. Go Texas. There lots of people from other states here for one big reason: Jobs

[kentauros]

5. For once, someone isn't bashing Texas around here!

Welcome to DU, neighbor! :hi:

[Ishoutandscream2]

7. Thanks for your kind words on a board that loathes Texas

But as an educator in Texas, the pink slips are fixin' to come. March 15 is considered a deadline on telling folks contracts aren't renewed, and this is the last day before our spring break. Our district today is about to be hit - but fortunately, a lot of folks being let go are at retirement age and are working in the central administration office. Several of these folks needed to go a long time ago.

Still hoping and praying for those of us who directly work with children. We're desperately needed. Keep your fingers crossed.

[AnneD]

8. Went to the school board meeting ....

last night. For all the pissing and moaning that you hear from the general public, HISD (Houston) has really been fiscally responsible, so we are not in as bad a shape as say Dallas. Our budget problems stem from the state cutting back on education funding to such a great degree. They are cutting back on funding in the areas and services they require us to provide for the students.

They have been supporting the parents, staff, and unions to go to Austin show support for education.

Board members were apologizing before they spoke last night. They were assuring everyone that they would give careful consideration before they did cuts and school closures. This was the first board meeting in a while that I felt the public was being listened too. They were even willing to let employees have a say in what they really needed and what they could do without. Hopefully we can prevent or blunt some of these draconian cuts

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Philosopher]

3. Erm

If the unemployment rate doesn't change does that mean jobs were really created? Or just shifted around?

[WatsonT]

4. Unemployment rates are a screwy thing

they're based on the amount of people looking for jobs, not necessarily those who are simply unemployed.

So if people simply give up looking the rates can drop even without adding jobs.

Likewise if things pick up and companies start hiring again the unemployment rates can temporarily spike as people who had long since given up decide to go out and look for a job.

[Luciferous]

9. Good for Texas! My in-laws live down there near San Antonio, and

they tried to talk my husband into moving down there but he doesn't want to leave IL (I wish he would!)

Anyway, it's nice to see some positive employment news :)