AUSTIN – The Austin metro’s April unemployment rate fell below 5% for the first time since December 2020, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.
TWC’s updated employment estimates released today say the Austin-Round Rock MSA* unemployment rate dropped from 5.3% in March 2021 to 4.5%** in April 2021, representing 57,409 unemployed residents.
- The Austin metro’s unemployment rate remained below Texas (6.3%) and national (5.7%) rates.
- According to TWC, the Austin metro added 6,000 jobs from March 2021 to April 2021. The region has experienced an annual growth rate of 11.9%, representing the collective gain of 119,600 jobs since April 2020.
- Further, TWC reports unemployment in the Capital Area/Travis County*** region decreased from 5.3% in March 2021 to 4.5% in April 2021, or 34,317 unemployed residents.
According to job posting data from Burning Glass Labor Insight, there were 30,536 new job ads posted in Austin MSA in April 2021. This is nearly double the count from a year prior — the tally was 16,454 in April 2020.
Before April’s revised unemployment rate, Austin area unemployment hovered in a monthly range of about 5% to 6% following the sharp rise of 12% experienced in April 2020. Local unemployment is still 1.9 percentage points higher than the 2.6% unemployment rate in February 2020.
“We are in a strong hiring environment, one with more businesses opening up and more relocating to the Austin metro,” said Tamara Atkinson, Chief Executive Officer at Workforce Solutions Capital Area. “However, those that will benefit the most in this environment are those with in-demand skills.”
“Workforce Solutions continues to offer services and supports to assist our neighbors in finding employment or training for the skills needed to provide for families and create value for businesses.”
April Job Growth/Losses by Industry in the Austin-Round Rock MSA:
- Monthly Increases: Industries that experienced a significant increase in regional job growth from February to March include Professional and Business Services (3,400), Leisure & Hospitality (2,400), Manufacturing (700), Government (300), and Mining, Logging & Construction (200).
- Monthly Decreases: Financial Activities (-400), Other Services (-400), Education & Health Services (-200), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-100).
- Annual Increases: Leisure & Hospitality experienced the greatest regional job growth over the last 12 months with an increase of 55.8%, followed by Other Services (28.9%), Trade, Transportation & Utilities (14%), Professional & Business Services (12.4%), Mining, Logging & Construction (8.1%), and Information (7.3%).
- Other industries with annual increases include Manufacturing (6.3%), Education & Health Services (6.3%), and Financial Activities (4.2%).
- Annual Decreases: Government (-0.2%).
Texas Opts Out of Federal Pandemic Benefits
Governor Greg Abbott has announced that on June 26, 2021, Texas will stop participating in ARPA programs, including Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and the Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation Program (MEUC).
Workforce Solutions Capital Area will continue its work to support and connect local people to local jobs.Continued supports and services Workforce Solutions offers for businesses and job seekers include:
- Virtual hiring events
- Posting and promoting available jobs through Jobs Now and WorkinTexas.com
- Scholarships for child care
- Scholarships for job training programs
- Individually working with each employer to fill job orders
- Highlighting employers on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube) who are hiring, offering sign on bonuses and wage increases, and more
- Offering financial incentives to businesses to grow their talent on the job
“Workforce Solutions serves as the single source for Austin-Travis County job seekers to find work and for business owners to find and retain local talent,” said Melanie Flowers, Chair of the Board of Directors for Workforce Solutions Capital Area. “If a person needs immediate employment, we assist them with finding jobs by industry, and connect them to career training and supports like childcare and transportation.”
Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s three career centers across Austin are available by phone, email, or in-person to serve residents and businesses impacted by economic changes caused by COVID-19.
Residents seeking assistance can contact us at 512.549.4967 or visit wfscapitalarea.com to learn about our many other services and resources for job seekers, employers, parents, and students.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area Workforce Board is the publicly-funded workforce board for Austin-Travis County. Through strong partnerships and strategic collaborations, Workforce Solutions is leading our region’s workforce system in the development of a world-class workforce.
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*The Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties.
**Unemployment rates listed are not seasonally adjusted.
***The Capital Area Workforce Development Area includes Travis County.
