Austin-area unemployment rate sees slight uptick

The Texas Workforce Commission reports that the unemployment rate in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area increased slightly from July to August 2024 to 3.7 percent – an increase representing 54,543 unemployed residents. Austin’s unemployment rate remains below the Texas and national averages, which are both at 4.4 percent. Over the same period, the Austin metro added 4,200 jobs, contributing to an annual growth rate of 1.3 percent, or 17,300 jobs since August 2023. Several industries saw notable job gains in the region from July to August, including professional and business services (+1,800 jobs); mining, logging and construction (+1,700 jobs); and government (+1,000 jobs). However, the leisure and hospitality sector experienced a loss of 900 jobs, with the information sector also seeing a decline of 200 jobs. Over the past year, mining, logging and construction saw the largest annual job growth, increasing by 5.8 percent, while the information industry recorded a 4.9 percent annual decrease.