The Texas Workforce Commission reported that 13,000 non-farm jobs were cut during the month of February.  Fortunately, it’s about the same number of jobs that were created in January.  So, as long as you’re not one of the thousands of people with no job, the numbers all work out to a steady 8.2%  unemployment rate over the last four months.  That’s 1.5% below the national average.  Tiny gains in industries such as business and manufacturing give a glimmer of hope to Texans.  However, additional loses in hospitality, construction and transportation show that while it’s not terrible right now, it’s going to take a long time to recover and rebuild a booming Texas economy.

The Dallas Morning News has quoted Tom Pauken of the Texas Workforce Commission as having this to say:  ”Although this serious national recession continues to have a negative impact here in Texas, the unemployment rate appears to have stabilized.”