Recent Press Releases

January 18, 2019 - Texas Employment Growth Continues in December

AUSTIN ⎯ As 2018 concluded, the Texas economy added another month of positive employment growth, with 38,000 seasonally adjusted nonfarm positions added for the month of December. Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, and has remained at the same historic 43-year low since October 2018. Annual employment growth for Texas was 3.2 percent in December, and marked 104 consecutive months of annual growth. Over the year, Texas has added 391,800 jobs as Total Nonfarm employment reached a new high of 12,744,100. Read more about the November labor market in the press release.

January 17, 2019 - South Texas School Districts Receive Job-Training Grants Totaling $760,485

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded three individual Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants to independent school districts (ISDs): a $271,472 grant to Raymondville ISD; a $208,383 grant to Donna ISD; and a $280,630 grant to Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD. The schools will use the grants to purchase and install equipment necessary to train 779 students for careers in high-demand occupations including welding fabrication and emergency medical services. The grants will benefit students in the Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley area. Read more about the JET grants to Raymondville, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, and Donna ISDs in the press release.

January 17, 2019 - Take Charge of Business at the Texas Business Conference in Brownsville

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) invites Brownsville–area employers, human resource professionals, business owners and managers to attend the Texas Business Conference on Feb. 8 at the Brownsville Event Center in Brownsville. The conferences offer employers the opportunity to learn about new employment laws, network with peers, talk one-on-one with employment attorneys, and earn education credits. Read more about the Texas Business Conference in Brownsville.

January 11, 2019 - South Texas College Receives Job-Training Grants Totaling Over $1.3 Million for Healthcare and Technology Training

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded South Texas College three individual grants: a $249,096 Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant; a $655,153 Skills Development Fund (Skills) grant to a health care consortium; and a $409,890 Skills grant to a manufacturing consortium. The grants will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions areas of Lower Rio Grande Valley, Middle Rio Grande, and South Texas. Read more about the South Texas College Job-Training grants in the press release.

January 7, 2019 - Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Mourns Passing of Executive Director Larry Temple

AUSTIN ⎯ With deep sadness, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announces the passing of its Executive Director Larry Temple, who died Saturday morning at the age of 66. Mr. Temple faithfully served the state of Texas for over two decades, from 1997 until 2019. Read more about Mr. Temple in the press release.

January 4, 2019 -  Take Charge of Business at the Texas Business Conferences

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has announced its 2019 Texas Business Conference schedule with 13 locations available throughout the state. The conferences offer employers and human resource professionals the opportunity to learn about new employment laws, network with peers, talk one-on-one with employment attorneys, and earn education credits. Read more about the TBC Conference in the press release.

December 21, 2018 - Texas' Unemployment Rate Remains at Historic Low 3.7 Percent

AUSTIN ⎯ Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment was 3.7 percent in November, remaining at the same historic 42-year low it was in October. The Texas economy added 14,000 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in November. Annual employment growth for Texas was 3.0 percent in November, marking 103 consecutive months of annual growth. Read more about the November labor market in the press release.

December 6, 2018 - Average Unemployment Insurance Tax Rates Decrease for Texas Employers

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) today announced the average unemployment insurance (UI) tax rate for all employers will be 1.25 percent for Calendar Year (CY) 2019, dropping from 1.37 percent in CY 2018 to its lowest point since 2009. The average tax rate for experience-rated employers is 1.06 percent for CY 2019, and is down from 1.20 percent in CY 2018. Read more about the 2019 tax rates in the press release.