By Scott Harvey
– The latest jobless figures show encouraging signs locally, as several counties show fewer people out of work.
According to the Texas Workforce Commission, Hopkins County continues to sport the lowest area unemployment rate, dropping from 7.3 percent in January to 7.1 percent in February. Hunt County's rate dropped .2 percent to 9. While Delta County is listed as the highest unemployment area, their jobless rate dropped .7 percent last month to 9.9.
Elsewhere throughout the region, Collin County reported a 7.3 percent unemployment rate during February, Fannin County posted 9.7 percent, Kaufman County 8.9 percent, Lamar County 9.8 percent, Rains County 8.8 percent, Rockwall County 7.9 percent and Van Zandt County posted a 7.6 percent unemployment rate.