Labor Market Intelligence
Coastal Bend Thrives as Key Sectors Fuel Job Market Growth
September 2024 LMI
**Released October 18, 2024. Reflects data up to September 2024. **
Month-Over-Month Shifts
In the Texas Workforce Commission’s September 2024 labor market report, the Coastal Bend region’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points, dropping to 4.5% September 2024.
All eleven counties in the Coastal Bend region experienced a decrease in unemployment during this period. As of September 2024, the region’s 4.5% unemployment rate represents 11,982 residents actively seeking employment, with 6,904 job openings across a variety of industries throughout the region.
Year-Over-Year Shifts
While unemployment was slightly lower in September of 2023, year-over-year data shows that four of the eleven Coastal Bend counties decreased in unemployment during the same period.
Comparison with State and National Trends
Month-Over-Month
- Texas’ non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped by 0.3 percentage points, from 4.4% in August 2024 to 4.1% in September 2024.
- Nationally, the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.5 percentage points, from 4.4% in August 2024 to 3.9% in September 2024.
Year-Over-Year
- Texas saw a 0.2 percentage point increase in its unemployment rate, rising from 3.9% in September 2023 to 4.1% in September 2024.
- Nationally, the unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points, from 3.6% in September 2023 to 3.9% in September 2024.
Texas Labor Market Growth
Texas’ labor market achieved new record highs in September in terms of the job count and number of people in the civilian labor force.
Texas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased to 14,289,900 after 29,200 jobs were added over the month. Texas added 327,400 jobs from September 2023 to September 2024. Texas’ annual nonfarm growth rate currently sits at 2.3%, outpacing the U.S. growth rate by 0.7 percentage points.
In September, Texas’ seasonally adjusted civilian labor force achieved a new record-high of 15,449,900 after adding 51,500 people over the month. This marks the ninth consecutive month of growth for Texas’ civilian labor force. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 318,500 people.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas registered at 4.1%.
“Texas continues to outpace the nation in over-the-year nonfarm growth rate with more than 327,000 jobs added since September 2023,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “TWC supports this continued growth by helping build and shape a skilled workforce that meets the needs of Texas industries.”
Professional and Business Services added 10,500 jobs in September, registering as the industry with the largest over-the-month increase. Private Education and Health Services added 10,400 jobs over the month and Construction added 8,100 jobs. Construction showed 5.1% growth over the year, which outpaced the industry’s national growth rate by 2.1 percentage points.
“The record-setting 15.4 million Texans who make up our civilian labor force are strengthening and innovating our state’s economy,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “As our labor force continues to grow, TWC programs will continue to help all Texans secure meaningful employment and build brighter futures.”
“Industries across the state are growing as even more employers recognize Texas as the best state to do business,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza. “From recruitment and training to customized workforce solutions, TWC offers a comprehensive variety of services to empower employers and encourage success.”
Sectors Driving Growth
Both the Coastal Bend region and the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) displayed growth in diverse industries, weekly wages, and year-over-year employment statistics.
The Construction industry experienced a 13.9% increase region wide, followed by the Manufacturing industry which increased to 4.3% compared to September 2023
For the Corpus Christi MSA, the Mining, Logging and Mining, Logging, and Construction industry lead the growth rate with a 4.2% increase in 2023, followed by the Financial Activities industry with a 3.2% increase year-over-year.
Resources
Job seekers in the region have access to 6,904 job openings across diverse sectors. To explore these opportunities, individuals can register at WorkinTexas.com, visit our website at wfscb.org, email us at Info@workforcesolutionscb.org, or visit one of our Workforce Career Centers https://staging.workforcesolutionscb.org/career-centers/. For assistance, call 888-860-JOBS (5627).
*Advertised jobs are spidered daily in real-time. Real-time advertised jobs are collected from employer corporate sites, hospitals, non-profits, local and federal government
Labor Market Information Definitions
Not Seasonally Adjusted (Actual) – Data has not been subjected to the seasonal adjustment process. In other words, the effects of regular or seasonal patterns have not been removed from these series. Not seasonally adjusted data is available for smaller geographies, where seasonally adjusted is only available down to the state level. Use this data to view raw numbers, and for geographies smaller than state level.
Seasonally Adjusted – Total employment and unemployment vary throughout the year. For example, higher unemployment in January and February isn’t uncommon because of work in agriculture, construction and other seasonal industries slowing down. Also, both employment and unemployment rise every June, when students enter the labor force in search of summer jobs. Seasonally adjusted numbers also take into account seasonal hiring/layoff patterns that go along with winter and summer holidays. Use this data for month-to-month comparisons for Texas and the United States.
Labor Force – Residents who are at least 16 years old, not serving in the military or institutionalized, and employed or seeking employment.
Download Targeted Occupations List 2022-2023 (PDF)
The targeted occupations list is developed by Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend for the most effective use of local workforce development resources. Sources of information for the target list are local area employers, economic development entities, chambers of commerce, community partners, Texas Workforce Commission labor market information regarding the Coastal Bend Counties, and knowledge gained from continuous contact with the above sources.
Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend’s Strategic Business Plan 2021-2025 has been updated to comply with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) regulations. The final draft has been approved by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Written comments were submitted electronically to amy.villarreal@workforcesolutionscb.org, delivered via mail or in-person to the Board Administrative offices to Amy Kiddy Villarreal, Chief Operating Officer at 400 Mann St. Suite 800, Corpus Christi TX 78401
Have A Workforce Professional Contact You!
Workforce Professionals are virtually available to assist you by phone, text, email, and online.
(361) 882-7491
info@workforcesolutionscb.org
Local Labor Market Information
The Texas Workforce Commission collects information from Unemployment Insurance claims coupled with data from the Current Employment Statistics Program and data from other sources to produce estimates of total employment, unemployment, and unemployment rates for the 27 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and all 254 counties in the state.
Each month, the Local Area Labor Market Information (LMI) is distributed to the Coastal Bend community. These rates are provided to a wide variety of users both inside and outside government and are used as a basic allocator for federal funding in many programs.
Check out the latest Local Labor Market Information (LMI) for the Coastal Bend.
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