Jobless claims in Burnet and Llano counties continued to fall last month as the Highland Lakes area continues its resurgence and recovery following last year’s COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, according to figures released this month by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
The unadjusted unemployment rate of the nine-county Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area of Central Texas dropped to 4.3 percent in May 2021, down from 4.6 percent in April 2021, and a huge from the 9.6 percent unemployment reported in May 2020, with nearly 3,00 more people employed in the region than last month.
The 4.3 percent unemployment rate in the nine-county Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) represented 24,544 residents seeking employment. The region’s unemployment rate remained below Texas’ (5.9 percent) and the national (5.5 percent) rates.
According to the most recent labor market data, the leisure and hospitality industry has experienced the greatest quarterly employment growth in the Rural Capital Area region with an increase of 6.9 percent. Job gains were also experienced in trade, transportation, and utilities (6.5 percent), as well as education and health services (5.9 percent).
Professional and business services in the Rural Capital Area experienced the greatest positive annual job growth and recovery with an increase of 4.5 percent. Positive annual job growth and recovery were also experienced in the trade, transportation, and utilities industry (4.1 percent), and financial activities (3.6 percent). Burnet County recorded an unemployment rate of 3.9 percent as 940 of the county’s eligible workforce of 24,074 people were actively seeking employment and filed for unemployment benefits — down 38 people from April 2021, when the unemployment rate was 4.1 percent.
In May 2020, Burnet County had an unemployment rate of 6.7 percent with 1,520 people out of a labor force of 22,581 seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits — meaning there are 580 fewer people unemployed than last year at this time and 1,223 more people in the workforce.
For Llano County, unemployment fell in May 2021 to 5.1 percent as 432 people out of the county’s labor force of 8,539 people were seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits. That was a decrease of 15 people from April 2021, when unemployment in Llano County was 5.4 percent.
In May 2020, Llano County had an unemployment rate of 8.0 percent with 634 people out of a labor force of 7,954 seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits — meaning there are 202 more people employed than last year at this time and 585 more people in the workforce.
All counties within the Rural Capital Area region saw unemployment rates drop in May. Blanco County recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 3.4 percent (down from 3.6 percent in April). Burnet County dropped to 3.9 percent (down from 4.1 percent), while Williamson dropped to 4.2 percent (down from 4.4 percent), while both Hays and Lee Counties matched the regional rate of 4.3 percent (down from 4.4 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively).
Bastrop and Fayette Counties slid to 4.6 percent (down from 4.8 percent each), while Caldwell and Llano Counties dropped to 5.1 percent (down from 5.3 percent each).
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.
