AUSTIN, Texas – According to data released today from the Texas Workforce Commission, the Austin-Round Rock MSA* unemployment rate decreased slightly from August 2023 to September 2023, and is now at 3.6%**, as represented by 52,275 unemployed residents. Key takeaways include:
- The Austin metro unemployment rate remains below the Texas rate (4.1%) and is the same as the national rate (3.6%) in September.
- According to TWC, the Austin metro gained 11,500 jobs from August to September. The region has experienced an annual growth rate of 3.3%, representing the collective addition of 42,200 jobs since September 2022.
- Furthermore, TWC reports unemployment in the Capital Area/Travis County region*** decreased slightly to 3.6% from August to September, representing 30,666 unemployed residents.
- Note: The unemployment data released today is not seasonally adjusted.
September Job Growth/Losses by Industry in the Austin-Round Rock MSA:
- Monthly Increases: Industries that experienced regional job growth from August to September include government (6,500), trade, transportation and utilities (1,700) and professional and business services (1,700).
- Other industries that experienced monthly job growth include private education and health services (1,500) and leisure and hospitality (1,000).
- Monthly Decreases: Information (-400), manufacturing (-300), financial activities (-100) and other services (-100) experienced regional job losses from August to September.
- Annual Increases: Leisure and hospitality experienced the greatest regional job growth over the past 12 months with an increase of 7.0%, followed by mining, logging and construction (6.6%).
- Other industries that experienced annual job growth include other services (5.7%), manufacturing (3.5%), professional and business services (3.5%) and private education and health services (3.5%).
- Annual Decreases: Information (-1.3%) experienced an annual decrease from September 2022 to September 2023.
As the Austin-San Antonio metroplex continues to expand, Workforce Solutions Capital Area is bringing key leaders together to ensure the region is preparing the workforce required to support this growth. The recent Moving Forward: Mobility & Infrastructure Workforce Summit featured a regional approach to filling the 10,000 new mobility and infrastructure jobs the mega region will need to fill annually to complete planned projects.
“The Austin to San Antonio corridor is a talent magnet with a strong job growth rate, producing jobs faster than many other metropolitan areas,” Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, said. “Now that we’ve established a baseline of data and shared it with Central Texas leaders, we will put actions to strategies supported by these findings.”
The findings released at the summit called attention to gender gaps and skills shortages. “If you’re not taking a regional approach, you could get left behind,” Aaron Demerson, Commissioner Representing Employers for the Texas Workforce Commission, said during a panel about how local partnerships with the state help create opportunities for the region.
“We are proud to bring together city, county, state and national leaders to inform strategies for creating an equitable community for all,” Melanie Flowers, board chair for Workforce Solutions Capital Area, said. “Mobility and infrastructure jobs hold a place for professional growth and competitive wages, and we will continue to proactively find ways to recruit new candidates and connect them with employers in Central Texas.”
Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s three career centers across Austin are available by phone, email, or in-person to serve residents and businesses impacted by economic changes caused by COVID-19. Residents seeking assistance can contact 512-454-9675 or visit wfscapitalarea.com to learn about services and resources for job seekers, employers, parents, and students.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is the non-profit organization that serves as the leadership and governing body for the Austin/Travis County area workforce system. They are responsible for the planning, oversight, and evaluation of workforce development activities in the Capital Area. Learn more at WFSCapitalArea.com and follow along on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
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*The Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties.
**Unemployment rates listed are not seasonally adjusted.
***The Capital Area Workforce Development Area includes Travis County.
