Houston Government Jobs Increase by 7,900

While the city's unemployment rate remained flat and the area continued to lose jobs from last year, thousands of Houston government jobs were added last month.

During October, the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown area's unemployment rate remained steady at 8.5 percent, following an increase from 8.4 percent during September. The area's current rate is still lower than the national unemployment rate of 10.2 percent.

The Houston area had a total non-farm employment of 2,529,100 workers during October, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 2,520,000 during September, but a 3 percent decrease from last year.

Houston's government industry saw the biggest monthly increase in employment, adding 7,900 jobs. Other industries that increased during the month include: mining and logging by 800 jobs; manufacturing by 400 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities by 2,000 jobs; financial activities by 100 jobs; and professional and business services by 2,500 jobs. Employment in the information industry remained at an even 34,400 jobs.

Three industries managed to see an increase in employment from last year. The education and health services industry, government industry and leisure and hospitality industry grew by 2.1 percent, 2 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively.

The construction industry once again took the biggest hit when compared to last year. That industry employed 181,800 workers during October, down from 182,700 workers during September and an 11.1 percent decrease from last year.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:
mining and logging by 1.8 percent
manufacturing by 6.3 percent
trade, transportation and utilities by 6.5 percent
information by 4.2 percent
financial activities by 1.1 percent
professional and business services by 3.7 percent
other services by 2.7 percent