Baytown Sun in Baytown, Texas

Texas posts first nonfarm job loss since April 2007

Texas shed 4,000 nonfarm jobs in September marking the first monthly decline in over a year and lifting unemployment to 5.1 percent. Initial unemployment claims rose to 128,456 from 68,139 with Ike’s impact noted but not fully seen until next month. Major losses occurred in trade, transportation and utilities and manufacturing, while education and health services and natural resources posted gains. Local area rates ranged from 3.2 percent in Midland to 7.9 percent in McAllen.