The unemployment rate for Burnet and Llano counties each dropped by 0.5 percent in December as the area added 233 jobs to end 2020 on a positive note, according to figures released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
The unadjusted unemployment rate of the nine-county Rural Capital Area of Central Texas dropped to 5.1 percent in December, down from 5.8 percent in November, with 3,604 total jobs added. The 5.1 percent unemployment rate represented 28,870 residents seeking employment. The region’s unemployment rate remains below both the Texas (7.1 percent)and national (6.5 percent) unadjusted rates.
For the month of December, Burnet County recorded an unemployment rate of 4.7 percent as 1,095 of the county’s eligible workforce of 23,427 people were actively seeking employment and filed for unemployment benefits down 132 people from November 2020, when the unemployment rate was 5.2 percent.
In December 2019, Burnet County had an unemployment rate of 2.5 percent with just 582 people out of a labor force of 23,540 seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits — meaning there are 513 more people unemployed than last year at this time and 113 fewer people in the workforce.
For Llano County, unemployment fell in December 2020 to 6.0 percent as 518 people out of the county’s labor force of 8,675 people were seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits. That was a decrease of 42 people from November 2020, when unemployment in Llano County was 6.5 percent.
In December 2019, Llano County had an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent with just 279 people out of a labor force of 8,678 seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits — meaning there are 239 more people unemployed than last year at this time and three fewer people in the workforce.
Within the WSRCA counties, Blanco recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 3.8 percent in November, followed by Lee County at 4.5 percent, and Burnet County was third at 4.7 percent. Williamson County was at 5.0 percent, while Hays County was at 5.2 percent. Bastrop and Fayette counties were at 5.3 percent, while Caldwell County was at 5.8 percentand Llano County was at 6.0
The WSRCA team is eager to help job seekers find workforce solutions and offers curbside and in-center assistance by appointment. Services continue to be available virtually. Utilize their SkillBased Career Progression Lattices and work with their teams to develop a customized training plan to help you enhance your skills and create sustainable career outcomes.
Looking for work? The Workforce Wednesdays Virtual Career Expo connects employers and job seekers at weekly online hiring events. Workforce Wednesdays represents a collective effort among Rural Capital Area communities and industries to empower their workforce through virtual interactive events and continue to help the region compete at a global level.
“We are proud to continue to innovate our services to present new workforce opportunities for local businesses, families and job seekers,” said WSRCA CEO Paul Fletcher. “These are difficult times for our communities, but we’ll get through this together. By hosting virtual hiring events each week during Workforce Wednesdays, we are helping our fellow Texans find sustainable careers to support their families, all from the safety and convenience of their mobile device.”
Employers looking to host free hiring booths and interview sessions should email the WSRCA Business Services Team at businessservices@ruralcapital.net, or visit ruralcapitalarea.getyourbooth.com.
For more information please visit WSRCA at workforcesolutionsrca.com, call toll free, at 1-844-344-2780, and begin a job search on workintexas.com.
Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit texaslmi.com.
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area is a nonprofit community partnership providing no cost recruitment, employment services and childcare assistance, to businesses, employers, and job seekers in the Rural Capital Area of central Texas. This nine-county region includes Bastrop; Blanco; Burnet; Caldwell; Fayette; Hays; Lee; Llano; and Williamson counties. For more details on WSRCA, and the services it offers, visit workforcesolutionsrca. com.
