EAST TEXAS (KYTX) - Unemployment
in the Longview Metropolitan Statistical Area fell to 6.2 percent in August,
down from 6.6 percent in July, according to state jobless data released Friday.
Unemployment in Tyler dropped from 7.4 percent to 7.2 percent during the same
time period.
It was not the only good news
for the East Texas cities announced today. According to recent rankings from
HomeVestors of America and Local Market Monitor, Tyler and Longview are among
the top 10 smaller markets in the U.S. to invest in single-family homes as
rentals.
"Many of these markets not only
have unemployment rates well below the national average, but they show strong
job growth and housing prices have bottomed out," said Ingo Winzer, president
and founder of Local Market Monitor, a real-estate forecasting firm, in a
statement. HomeVestors is a real-estate investment company.
The unemployment rate in Texas
in August matched the revised July figure of 7.1 percent as steady job growth
continued, according to state jobless data released Friday.
The Texas Workforce Commission said the July jobless rate was revised downward
from 7.2 percent, and the August figure was a full percentage point below the
number from a year ago. The national unemployment rate is 8.1 percent.
The state economy added 38,000
nonfarm jobs in August for a total of nearly 260,000 jobs added since last
year, according to commission figures.
"A major component to Texas' long-term economic development is consistent
job growth, and that is exactly what we are seeing across a number of different
industries," said commission Chairman Andres Alcantar.
Construction led the way among sectors with 13,600 jobs added, followed closely
by trade, transportation and utilities with 13,100 positions. Manufacturing
dropped 5,100 jobs, while education and health services was down by 4,200 jobs.
