Texas jobless rate for December up slightly to 4.7 percent

Texas employers added 24,900 jobs in December, but the state’s jobless rate rose slightly to reach 4.7 percent, marking the fourth straight month of higher unemployment.

Despite adding jobs in December, the Texas job machine slowed down significantly in 2015 as the plunge in oil prices took its toll on the economy. The Workforce Commission said Texas added 166,900 jobs in 2015, compared to 457,900 new jobs reported for 2014 a year ago.

The December unemployment rate compares to 4.6 percent in both November and December 2014. The state’s rate remains below the national jobless rate, which stood at 5 percent in December.

Amarillo had the lowest average unemployment rate for Texas last month at 2.9 percent. The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area had the state’s highest jobless rate during December at 7.8 percent.

Fort Worth-Arlington recorded a job less rate of 3.8 percent, compared to 3.6 percent for Dallas-Plano-Irving and 3.7 percent for the Metroplex.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 10:45 AM with the headline "Texas jobless rate for December up slightly to 4.7 percent."