© 2024 88.9 KETR
Public Radio for Northeast Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Area experiences unemployment increase

By Scott Harvey

Hunt County's unemployment rate rose to its highest point so far this year in August, as almost 100 jobs were lost across the county since July.

The report, issued Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission, shows 5.4% of workers are unemployed. The unemployment rate was 5.2% in July and 4.5% in August 2007.

There were 37,692 people listed as employed in the county last month, the most people ever employed during August since at least 2000. Still, it represented a decrease of 97 jobs since July, but also an increase of 473 positions since August of last year.

A total of 2,136 people applied for unemployment benefits locally in August, an increase of 55 persons since July and 376 people when compared to August 2007.

Hopkins County posted a 4.4% unemployment rate in August, up from 4.3% in July. Hopkins County's unemployment rate in August, 2007 was 3.9%. Lamar County is at 5.4%, up from 5.2% in July, and up from 4.7% in August 2007. Fannin County, 6.3%, is up from 6.1% in July and 5.3% from August 2007.

Elsewhere, Kaufman and Delta counties each recorded 5.8% unemployment rates in August. Rains County 5.3%, Van Zandt County 4.6%, Collin County 4.8 percent, and Rockwall County recorded 5% unemployment last month.