Report shows nudge in jobless figures

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January 19, 2013

Report shows nudge in jobless figures

By BRAD KELLAR Herald-Banner Staff The Herald-Banner Sat Jan 19, 2013, 12:15 AM CST

GREENVILLE — There was a slight nudge upward in the local jobless numbers during the weeks before the Christmas holidays.

But unemployment in Hunt County was still at its lowest point in December in four years and more people were on the job in the county last month than during any other December this century, according to a report issued Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

The rise in the unemployment rate was the first in six months.

Unemployment in Hunt County rose to 6.1 percent last month, from an even 6 percent in November. The unemployment rate was listed at 7.6 percent in December 2011.

Last month’s jobless rate was the lowest in the county since 6.3 percent unemployment was recorded in December 2008.

There were 38,371 people reported employed in December, a loss of 68 jobs than in November. Hunt County has added 1,031 jobs since December 2011.

There were 2,481 people listed as unemployed across the county last month, an increase of 14 people since November and 590 fewer than in December 2011.

Hunt County is listed by the TWC as part of the Dallas-Plano-Irving Metropolitan Division, which also includes Dallas, Collin, Delta, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman and Rockwall counties.

Delta County posted the division’s highest December unemployment rate, at 7.3 percent.

Dallas and Ellis counties reported 6.3 percent unemployment in December and Kaufman County recorded 6.2 percent unemployment last month.

Denton County reported the division’s lowest unemployment rate during December, at 5.2 percent. Collin County recorded 5.4 percent unemployment and Rockwall County listed 5.5 percent unemployment last month.

Among other nearby counties, Fannin County posted a 8.6 percent unemployment rate during December, Hopkins County 5.3 percent, Lamar County 8.1 percent, Rains County 6.9 percent and Van Zandt County posted a 5.8 percent unemployment rate last month.