Unemployment plummets in Burnet, Llano counties

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The labor market in the Highland Lakes continued to right ship as unemployment dropped more than half a percentage point in July 2021, 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 fell to 4.3 percent in July 2021, down from 4.9 percent in June 2021, as the local economy added 9,191 jobs from June to July, with employment rising by 36,911 year-to-year from 2020 to 2021. It marked a large change from the 7.3 percent unemployment reported in June 2020. as

The 4.3 percent unemployment rate in the nine-county Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) represented 25,279 residents seeking employment. The region’s unemployment rate remained below Texas’ (6.0 percent) and the national (5.7 percent) rates, which also saw drops in unemployment.

For the month of July, Burnet County recorded an unemployment rate of 3.9 percent as 952 of the county’s eligible workforce of 24,416 people were actively seeking employment and filed for unemployment benefits — down 130 people from June 2021, when the unemployment rate was 4.5 percent.

In July 2020, Burnet County had an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent with 1,315 people out of a labor force of 24,040 seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits — meaning there are 367 fewer people unemployed than last year at this time and 376 more people in the workforce.

For Llano County, unemployment fell in July 2021 to 5.2 percent as 457 people out of the county’s labor force of 8,810 people were seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits. That was a decrease of 46 people from June 2021, when unemployment in Llano County was 5.8 percent.

In July 2020, Llano County had an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent with 561 people out of a labor force of 8,624 seeking employment and filing for unemployment benefits — meaning there are 104 more people employed than last year at this time and 186 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 3.7 percent in July. Burnet County was at 3.9 percent, and Williamson County came in at 4.2 percent. Hays County was at 4.4 percent, and Fayette County wwas at 4.7 percent. Both Lee County and Bastrop County were at 4.9 percent. Llano County recorded a 5.2 percent unemployment rate in July, and Caldwell came in at 5.3 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 Bu reau 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.