Texas jobless rate for July holds at 8.2 percent

AUSTIN, Texas

The Texas unemployment rate held steady at 8.2 percent in July as the state saw modest job growth, the Texas Workforce Commission said Friday.

The state picked up 4,600 jobs in July and has gained 168,900 jobs since January, according to commission figures.

"Private sector employers in Texas continued adding jobs in July, a trend we've seen since the first of the year," said commission Chairman Tom Pauken.

Pauken said the loss of 23,300 government jobs in July offset gains in the private sector. Professional and business services had the biggest increase at 12,600 jobs.

Mining and logging employment grew by 4,600 jobs in July and has added jobs for six consecutive months. The construction and manufacturing industries each added 4,300 jobs.

The Texas jobless rate remained more than a percentage point under the national figure of 9.5 percent.

Unemployment rates are adjusted for seasonal trends in hiring and firing, which most economists believe give a more accurate picture of the job market.

Without the seasonal adjustment, the state unemployment rate remained unchanged from June at 8.5 percent.

Midland had the lowest local jobless rate at 5.7 percent, while the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission was the highest at 12.3 percent. The local rates are not seasonally adjusted.