Donley, Hall counties lag state, area job growth

State and regional officials touted low unemployment figures last week, but the data shows Donley and Hall counties remains behind in job creation.

Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated the fact that Texas is growing jobs at a faster rate than the rest of the nation, with the state setting records for employed individuals and the size of the labor force.

Meanwhile, the Panhandle Workforce Development Area (WDA) solidified its position as one of the state’s top performers with a low unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in July. This marks our region’s continued reign as the second-lowest unemployment rate in Texas.

The story is different in Donley County, which has a 5.0 percent unemployment rate for July, up from 4.4 percent one year ago. While the number of employed people has risen from 1,391 last July to 1,395 this year, the number of people looking for work also went up from 64 to 74. Donley County’s labor force was 1,455 in July 2023 and was 1,469 last month.

Hall County reported the highest unemployment rate in the Panhandle at 5.4 percent, up from 4.6 percent a year ago. Out of a labor force of 1,106 workers, 1,046 were employed last month. In 2023, Hall County had 1,034 people employed with a labor force of 1,084. Sixty people were looking for work in July, compared to 50 people one year ago.

Regionally, the Panhandle’s diverse economy continues to drive job creation. Education and health services remain the dominant employer in the region, accounting for 22.5 percent of total employment according to Q1 2024 data. Trade, transportation, and utilities follow closely behind at 20.5 percent. Manufacturing (14.4 percent), leisure and hospitality (10.1 percent), and natural resources and mining (8.0 percent) are also significant contributors to the job market.

“Our skilled and growing workforce is a magnet for innovative businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to expand and succeed,” said Abbott. “As a result, Texas employers added jobs at a faster rate than the nation over the last 12 months and more Texans are working than ever before. The diversity of industries growing across our great state is a testament to the resilience of Texas businesses and the Best Business Climate in America. With increasing investments in education, innovation, and workforce training, we continue to build a bigger, better Texas for all.”

The Texas unemployment rate in July of 4.1 percent was 0.2 percentage points below the national rate.