Labor Market Intelligence
Coastal Bend’s Economic Stability and Growing Industry Opportunities
October 2024 LMI
**Released November 15, 2024. Reflects data up to October 2024. **
Month-Over-Month Shifts
In the Texas Workforce Commission’s October 2024 labor market report, the Coastal Bend region’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.5%. Among the eleven counties within the Coastal Bend region, four counties reported a decrease in unemployment during this period.
As of October 2024, the region’s unemployment rate of 4.5% reflects 12,036 residents actively seeking employment, with 12,403 job openings across a variety of industries.
Year-Over-Year Changes
The Coastal Bend region experienced a year-over-year increase in unemployment, rising by 0.4 percentage points from 4.1% in October 2023 to 4.5% in October 2024.
This trend mirrors the state and national pattern, where the unemployment rate grew slightly, signaling a positive broader labor market recovery and adjustment both locally and nationwide.
Comparison with State and National Trends
Month-Over-Month
- Texas: The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1% between September 2024 and October 2024.
- Nationally: The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also held steady at 3.9%.
Year-Over-Year
- Texas: The unemployment rate increased by 0.4 percentage points, from 3.7% in October 2023 to 4.1% in October 2024.
- Nationally: The unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points, from 3.6% in October 2023 to 3.9% in October 2024.
Texas Labor Market Growth
Texas’ labor market achieved a new record high in October for the number of people in the civilian labor force. After adding 47,300 people over the month, the seasonally adjusted civilian labor force reached the new record high of 15,497,100. This marks the tenth consecutive month of growth for Texas’ civilian labor force. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 360,800 people.
Texas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment dropped slightly to 14,276,300 following a decrease of 10,600 jobs over the month. However, Texas added 274,600 jobs from October 2023 to October 2024. Texas’ annual nonfarm growth rate currently sits at 2.0%, outpacing the U.S. growth rate by 0.6 percentage points.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas remained stable at 4.1%.
“Continued growth in the Texas labor force helps to create opportunities for employers and job seekers alike,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “TWC will continue to provide training solutions—from high school programs to advanced skills development—to help meet the workforce needs of our state.”
The Financial Activities industry had the largest over-the-month increase in October after adding 6,200 jobs. The industry also grew by 3.1% over the year in Texas and outperformed the national growth rate by 2.8 percentage points. In addition, Leisure and Hospitality added 4,900 jobs over the month and Information added 1,900. The Manufacturing industry added 1,900 jobs over the month.
“Texas has experienced remarkable workforce growth, with over 360,000 people joining the civilian labor force in the past year,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “TWC offers a wide variety of training programs and resources to help Texans gain new skills and achieve their career goals in our robust Texas economy.”
Sectors Driving Growth
Both the Coastal Bend region and the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) displayed growth in diverse industries, weekly wages, and year-over-year employment statistics.
The Financial Activities sector experienced a 2.0% increase across the region, while both the Manufacturing and Education and Health Services sectors saw a 1.1% year-over-year growth compared to October 2023.
In the Corpus Christi MSA, the Mining, Logging, and Construction sector led year-over-year growth with a 4.9% increase from 2023 to 2024, followed closely by the Financial Activities sector, which grew by 4.3% during the same period.
Local Resources
Job seekers in the region can explore 12,403 job openings, including 3,952 newly added job postings across various industry sectors. To access these opportunities, register at WorkinTexas.com, visit our website at wfscb.org, email us at Info@workforcesolutionscb.org, or stop by one of our Workforce Career Centers. For assistance, call 888-860-JOBS (5627).
Labor Market Information Definitions
Not Seasonally Adjusted (Actual) – Data has not been subjected to the seasonal adjustment process. In other words, the effects of regular or seasonal patterns have not been removed from these series. Not seasonally adjusted data is available for smaller geographies, where seasonally adjusted is only available down to the state level. Use this data to view raw numbers, and for geographies smaller than state level.
Seasonally Adjusted – Total employment and unemployment vary throughout the year. For example, higher unemployment in January and February isn’t uncommon because of work in agriculture, construction and other seasonal industries slowing down. Also, both employment and unemployment rise every June, when students enter the labor force in search of summer jobs. Seasonally adjusted numbers also take into account seasonal hiring/layoff patterns that go along with winter and summer holidays. Use this data for month-to-month comparisons for Texas and the United States.
Labor Force – Residents who are at least 16 years old, not serving in the military or institutionalized, and employed or seeking employment.
Download Targeted Occupations List 2024-2025 (PDF)
The targeted occupations list is developed by Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend for the most effective use of local workforce development resources. Sources of information for the target list are local area employers, economic development entities, chambers of commerce, community partners, Texas Workforce Commission labor market information regarding the Coastal Bend Counties, and knowledge gained from continuous contact with the above sources.
Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend’s Strategic Business Plan 2021-2025 has been updated to comply with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) regulations. The final draft has been approved by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Written comments were submitted electronically, delivered via mail or in-person to the Board Administrative offices, Chief Operating Officer at 400 Mann St. Suite 800, Corpus Christi TX 78401
Have A Workforce Professional Contact You!
Workforce Professionals are virtually available to assist you by phone, text, email, and online.
(361) 882-7491
info@workforcesolutionscb.org
Local Labor Market Information
The Texas Workforce Commission collects information from Unemployment Insurance claims coupled with data from the Current Employment Statistics Program and data from other sources to produce estimates of total employment, unemployment, and unemployment rates for the 27 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and all 254 counties in the state.
Each month, the Local Area Labor Market Information (LMI) is distributed to the Coastal Bend community. These rates are provided to a wide variety of users both inside and outside government and are used as a basic allocator for federal funding in many programs.
Check out the latest Local Labor Market Information (LMI) for the Coastal Bend.
2021
- August 2021 (PDF)
- July 2021 (PDF)
- June 2021 (PDF)
- May 2021 (PDF)
- April 2021 (PDF)
- March 2021 (PDF)
- February 2021 (PDF)
- January 2021 (PDF)
2020
- November 2020 (PDF)
- October 2020 (PDF)
- September 2020 (PDF)
- August 2020 (PDF)
- July 2020 (PDF)
- June 2020 (PDF)
- May 2020 (PDF)
- April 2020 (PDF)
- March 2020 (PDF)
- February 2020 (PDF)
- January 2020 (PDF)
2019
2018
- December 2018 (PDF)
- October 2018 (PDF)
- September 2018 (PDF)
- August 2018 (PDF)
- July 2018 (PDF)
- June 2018 (PDF)
- May 2018 (PDF)
- April 2018 (PDF)
- March 2018 (PDF)
- February 2018 (PDF)
- January 2018 (PDF)
2017
- December 2017 (PDF)
- November 2017 (PDF)
- October 2017 (PDF)
- September 2017 (PDF)
- August 2017 (PDF)
- July 2017 (PDF)
- June 2017 (PDF)
- May 2017 (PDF)
- April 2017 (PDF)
- March 2017 (PDF)
- February 2017 (PDF)
- January 2017 (PDF)
blank
2016
- December 2016 (PDF)
- November 2016 (PDF)
- October 2016 (PDF)
- September 2016 (PDF)
- August 2016 (PDF)
- July 2016 (PDF)
- June 2016 (PDF)
- May 2016 (PDF)
- April 2016 (PDF)
- March 2016 (PDF)
- February 2016 (PDF)
- January 2016 (PDF)
2015
- December 2015 (PDF)
- November 2015 (PDF)
- October 2015 (PDF)
- September 2015 (PDF)
- August 2015 (PDF)
- July 2015 (PDF)
- June 2015 (PDF)
- May 2015 (PDF)
- April 2015 (PDF)
- March 2015 (PDF)
- February 2015 (PDF)
- January 2015 (PDF)
2014
- December 2014 (PDF)
- November 2014 (PDF)
- October 2014 (PDF)
- September 2014 (PDF)
- August 2014 (PDF)
- July 2014 (PDF)
- June 2014 (PDF)
- May 2014 (PDF)
- April 2014 (PDF)
- March 2014 (PDF)
- February 2014 (PDF)
- January 2014 (PDF)
2012
- December 2012 (PDF)
- November 2012 (PDF)
- October 2012 (PDF)
- September 2012 (PDF)
- August 2012 (PDF)
- July 2012 (PDF)
- June 2012 (PDF)
- May 2012 (PDF)
- April 2012 (PDF)
- March 2012 (Amended 4/24/12) (PDF)
- February 2012 (PDF)
- January 2012 (PDF)
2013
- December 2013 (PDF)
- November 2013 (PDF)
- October 2013 (PDF)
- August 2013 (PDF)
- July 2013 (PDF)
- June 2013 (PDF)
- May 2013 (PDF)
- April 2013 (PDF)
- March 2013 (PDF)
- February 2013 (PDF)
- January 2013 (PDF)
2011
- December 2011 (PDF)
- November 2011 (PDF)
- October 2011 (PDF)
- September 2011 (PDF)
- August 2011 (PDF)
- July 2011 (PDF)
- June 2011 (PDF)
- May 2011 (PDF)
- April 2011 (PDF)
- March 2011 (PDF)
- February 2011 (PDF)
- January 2011 (PDF)
2009
- December 2009 (PDF)
- November 2009 (PDF)
- October 2009 (PDF)
- September 2009 (PDF)
- August 2009 (PDF)
- July 2009 (PDF)
2010
- December 2010< (PDF)
- November 2010 (PDF)
- October 2010 (PDF)
- September 2010 (PDF)
- August 2010 (PDF)
- July 2010 (PDF)
- June 2010 (PDF)
- May 2010 (PDF)
- April 2010 (PDF)
- March 2010 (PDF)
- February 2010 (PDF)
- January 2010 (PDF)
