Texas continues to outshine the rest of the nation in terms of economic and job growth. Fresh government data from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) shows that Texas added more than 64,000 jobs in April–the biggest employment gain in the state during the last four years.
The new jobs have helped Texas’ unemployment rate to drop to 5.2 percent, according to the TWC. This figure is down from 5.5 percent in March, and from 6.4 percent one year ago.
The new jobs come as no surprise; Texas has consistently been ranked one of the most business-friendly states in the nation. Low taxes, modest government spending, and predictable regulation have made the Lone Star State an ideal environment in which to start and grow businesses.
While Texas is generally thought of as a gas and oil state, its economy continues to diversify. TWC statistics show that during April, eight major industries saw substantial growth.
“We’re fortunate in Texas to see significant growth across several industries,” TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton said in a statement.
According to the new data, transportation, construction, education, health industries all added thousands of jobs in the state during the last month.
Karr Ingham, a Texas-based gas and oil economist, told Breitbart Texas, “The oil and gas industry has not gotten smaller–rather, the overall Texas economy has gotten bigger. The state economy is now a powerhouse. It is more than just an oil and gas economy; it is an industrial economy, a tech economy, a business economy, a manufacturing economy. … Texas has a lot going for it.”
Texas’ economy is growing at such a rapid rate, that some areas in the state have trouble filling all available positions.
Traditional leading markets like Los Angeles see roughly 10 percent of the population often unable to find a job. But Texas’ economy has been growing so quickly, that some areas in the state have the opposite problem. Midland, Texas, for example, has an unemployment rate of just 2.3 percent, according to the Dallas Morning News.
“We have issues filling our jobs,” Sara Higgins, a spokeswoman with the City of Midland, told Breitbart Texas. “The low unemployment has made it hard to find workers in the service sector. To remain competitive, the starting wages are incredibly high for retail and restaurants here.”
The Morning News pointed out that Texas beat out all states in terms of job creation over the last year.
Governor Rick Perry addressed the new TWC statistics in a statement obtained by Breitbart Texas. “Rising job numbers and falling unemployment rates continue to equal more opportunity for Texans,” Perry said. “Every job created represents someone working to build a better life for themselves and their families, whether that means being able to own a home, send a child to college, save for retirement or make other important investments in their future.”
Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate.
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