STAFF REPORT
The number of jobs in Kyle blew past 13,000 for the first time ever in April as unemployment in the city fell to its lowest rate since December 2008.
City officials say they have been striving to bring new employers to the burgeoning bedroom community so fewer residents will be forced to commute to Austin and elsewhere for work.
Their efforts paid off in April. Kyle’s jobless rate was 4.3 percent last month, down from 4.7 percent in March and 4.9 percent in April 2011, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Meanwhile, the number of jobs in Kyle swelled to 13,036 — a gain of 131 jobs in one month and 296 in the past 12 months.
Hays County’s unemployment rate also fell to 5.4 percent in April from 5.8 percent in March and 6.2 percent in April a year ago. Jobs in the county grew to 80,940, an increase of 819 positions since March — representing 6.7 percent of the 12,200 jobs that private sector employers added across the state.
Around Texas, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased in April to 6.9 percent, down from 7 percent in March and from 8 percent a year ago, continuing to trend below the national rate of 8.1 percent. The Texas unemployment rate has decreased for eight consecutive months.
“With more than 12.5 million workers and job seekers, Texas’ labor force is at an all-time high,” TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton said in a news release. “I am encouraged that our steadily improving labor market continues to offer good prospects for these hard-working Texans.”
Eight of the 11 major industries in Texas posted gains in April. The construction industry led with the addition of 7,300 jobs. Jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities expanded by 2,900 in April. The industry has added 42,300 jobs in Texas over the last year for an annual growth rate of 2 percent.
As for the metropolitan area of Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos, the unemployment rate also plummeted in April to 5.5 percent. That’s down from 6 percent a month earlier and 6.3 percent in April a year ago.
Kyle’s unemployment rate in December 2008 was 4.2 percent. The workforce commission does not provide employment data for smaller cities such as Buda.
