By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-903476.mp3
Dallas, TX – In April, Texas employment grew for the fourth consecutive month with the addition of more than 32,000 jobs. But the jobless rate also edged up from 8.2 percent to 8.3 percent.
Some economists say the higher jobless rate may actually be a positive sign of an improving economy, one where job seekers who stopped looking for work are feeling more confident and applying for jobs again.
In Dallas and surrounding counties eight out of 10 employment categories experienced growth. Leisure and hospitality as well as education and health services gained positions. Business services added 4,200 jobs last month after three months of cutting employment.
The two North Texas industries reporting job loss included information services as well as trade, transportation and utilities.
State workforce officials continue to identify Texas' economy as being better than much of the country. Texas' 8.3 percent unemployment is well below the national average of 9.9 percent. Michigan has the highest jobless rate of 14 percent. North Dakota has the lowest at 3.8 percent.