Recent Press Releases

March 20, 2019 - The Houston Launch Pad Receives $311,828 Self Sufficiency Fund Grant

AUSTIN - The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded The Houston Launch Pad a $311,828 Self Sufficiency Fund training grant to help 150 individuals transition into the workforce. Read more about the Self Sufficiency grant in the press release.

March 15, 2019 - Digital Workforce Academy Inc. Receives $302,633 Self Sufficiency Fund Grant

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded Digital Workforce Academy Inc. a $302,633 Self Sufficiency Fund training grant to help 150 individuals transition into the workforce. Read more about the Self Sufficiency grant in the press release.

March 14, 2019 - TWC Aids Prosecution of Multi-State, Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud Scheme

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) investigation of stolen identity in 2017 helped stop a multi-million-dollar unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme while preventing payment from TWC of any moneys based on false claims. Read more about TWC's aid in the press release.

March 13, 2019 - Texas Science and Engineering Fair Seeking Judges for 2019 Competition

AUSTIN – More than 1,200 Texas middle and high school students will present their outstanding projects at the 2019 Texas Science and Engineering Fair (TXSEF). The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) continues its commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and the success of tomorrow’s workforce by co-sponsoring the event for the 18th consecutive year with ExxonMobil. Read more about the Fair in the press release.

March 8, 2019 - Finisar Corporation, Baylor Scott & White, and Grayson College Receive Job-Training Grants Totaling $871,501

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded Grayson College and Finisar Corporation a $566,261 Skills Development Fund grant. The grant will be used to provide customized training to 235 new and incumbent workers for industry-related topics with focused training that includes project management, wafer fabrication, cleanroom chemical and equipment safety, and Excel. Read more about the Job-Training Grants in the press release.

March 8, 2019 - Texas Adds 15,400 Jobs in January

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas economy saw more positive employment growth to begin 2019, with 15,400 seasonally adjusted nonfarm positions added in January. After holding at a historic low for five consecutive months, Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.8 percent. January marked the 105th consecutive month of annual growth for total nonfarm employment. Read more about the January labor market in the press release.

March 7, 2019 - Community Learning Center (C.L.C., Inc.) Receives $252,656 Self Sufficiency Fund Grant

AUSTIN⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded C.L.C., Inc. a $252,656 Self Sufficiency Fund training grant to help 125 individuals transition into the workforce. The grant will help provide job training skills for occupations such as welding, machining, and logistics support. Read more about the grant received in the press release.

March 5, 2019 - Lamar Institute of Technology Joins TWC In Recognizing Students for Texas’ First Ever CTE Signing Day Ceremony.

AUSTIN ⎯ In recognition of the important role that Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum provides in ensuring a skilled future workforce, today marked the first ever CTE Signing Day in the Lone Star State. Read more about the first ever CTE Signing Day Ceremony in the press release.

March 1, 2019 - Trinity Valley Community College Receives $279,139, Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant.

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded Trinity Valley Community College a $279,139 Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant. The grant will help the school district purchase and install equipment to provide 255 students with training for careers in the healthcare profession. The purchased equipment will continue to support future students enrolled with Trinity Valley Community College. Read more about how grant will help the school district  in the press release.

February 25, 2019 - Texas Workforce Commission unveils new user-friendly labor market statistics site

AUSTIN- The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) recently launched a new website that will make accessing the agency’s statistics easier. The new site, www.TexasLMI.com replaces TRACER2.com and features a user-friendly dashboard with intuitive navigation. Read more about the new user-friendly labor market statistics in the press release.

 January 25, 2019 - Lone Star College Partners With Manufacturing Consortium for $968,537 Job-Training Grant

AUSTIN ⎯ A manufacturing consortium, consisting of Daikin Industries Goodman Manufacturing Company, LP (Goodman) and Daikin Industries Quietflex Manufacturing Company, LP, (Quietflex), has partnered with Lone Star College to provide job training using a $968,537 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The grant will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast area. Read more about the grant to Lone Star College in the press release.

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 December 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.