by WES FERGUSON
Kyle officials have said they’re trying to create more job opportunities in town for residents who’d prefer not to commute to Austin or San Antonio.
Despite losing 130 jobs earlier this year with the shuttering of the Palm Harbor Homes manufacturing plant, the city is making progress on that goal.
Employment inside the city limits has grown by nearly 200 jobs, or 1.5 percent, in the past 12 months, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.
Employment is set to grow even more in 2012. Image Microsystems, an e-waste recycler, is planning to bring 130 full-time positions to Kyle as it completes its move into the old Palm Harbor facility. Image Microsystems says it will add 50 more positions in Kyle in 2013.
Meanwhile, the city’s jobless rate fell to 5.5 percent in November, the city’s lowest since May.
The workforce commission does not track jobless rates at smaller cities such as Buda, but Hays County and the Austin metro area also made employment gains last month.
The jobless rate in the metro area of Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos fell sharply to 6.6 percent from 7.1 percent in October and 7.1 percent in November 2010.
Kyle’s jobless rate
5.5% - November
5.6% - October
5.6% - Nov. ’10
Hays County jobless rate
6.6% - November
7.0% - October
7.2% - Nov. ’10
Source: Texas Workforce Commission
