Austin Unemployment Rate Lowest in Three Years

The April unemployment rate in the Austin metro is the lowest it’s been in three years. It dropped half a point—from 6 percent in March to 5.5 percent in April. Last year at this time, Austin unemployment was at 6.3 percent.

"The Austin metropolitan area's unemployment rate has decreased in eight of the last nine months," said Texas Workforce Commission spokesperson Mark Lavergne.

The Texas Workforce Commission says Austin saw growth in nine of 10 major industries in April. 6,300 jobs were added in the Austin area last month —many in construction and in the Professional and Business Services sector.

Lavergne says the business jobs that were added reflect Austin’s technology focus.

“Of those jobs, 1,500 of them were added in tech-related fields. So professional and scientific and technical services,” said Lavergne.

The Texas unemployment rate in April was 6.9 percent—down from 7 percent in march and 8 percent one year ago. The unemployment rate in April was 8.1 percent nationally.