Jobless claims in Burnet and Llano counties rose slightly last month, according to figures released this month by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
The unadjusted unemployment rate of the ninecounty Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area of Central Texas rose to 4.9 percent in June 2021, up from 4.3 percent in May 2021, but still a far cry from the 8.1 percent unemployment reported in May 2020, with 579 more people employed in the region than last month.
The 4.9 percent unemployment rate in the ninecounty Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) represented 28,340 residents seeking employment. The region’s unemployment rate remained below Texas’ (6.6 percent) and the national (6.1 percent) rates, which also saw increases in unemployment.
For the month of May, Burnet County recorded an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent as 1,082 of the county’s eligible workforce of 24,237 people were actively seeking employment and filed for unemployment benefits — up 132 people from May 2021, when the unemployment rate was 3.9 percent.
In June 2020, Burnet County had an unemployment rate of 6.0 percent with 1,411 people out of a labor force of 23,678 seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits — meaning there are 329 fewer people unemployed than last year at this time and 559 more people in the workforce.
For Llano County, unemployment rose in June 2021 to 5.8 percent as 506 people out of the county’s labor force of 8,709 people were seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits. That was an increase of 67 people from May 2021, when unemployment in Llano County was 5.1 percent.
In June 2020, Llano County had an unemployment rate of 6.9 percent with 582 people out of a labor force of 8,494 seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits — meaning there are 76 more people employed than last year at this time and 215 more people in the workforce.
All counties within the Rural Capital Area region saw unemployment rates rise in June. Blanco recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 4.1 percent in June.
Burnet County was at 4.5 percent, and Williamson County came in at 4.7 percent. Hays County was at 5.1 percent, and Lee County was at 5.1 percent. Fayette County was at 5.2 percent, while Bastrop County was at 5.5 percent.
Llano County recorded a 5.8 percent unemployment rate in June, and Caldwell came in at 6.0 percent.
For a deeper dive into regional unemployment claims by demographics, skills impact, and zip code, please visit WSRCA’s interactive COVID-19 Workforce Impact Report and review the Unemployment Claims Snapshot. To review unemployment claims data at the state level, please visit TWC’s resources.
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 Skill-Based 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.
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.
