More than 1 million Texans were unemployed in January, according to new numbers from the Texas Workforce Commission. Unemployment in the state hit 8.6 percent in January, up from 8 percent the month before and 6.8 percent in January 2009. The comparable national rate was 10.6 percent.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the rate in January was 8.2 percent — the same rate recorded in December.

The highest unemployment numbers are in South Texas and Rio Grande Valley. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission’s rate was the highest, at 12.2 percent, followed by Brownsville-Harlingen, at 11.6 percent, and Beaumont-Port Arthur, at 11.0 percent. The lowest rate in January was 6.0 percent, in Amarillo. Lubbock and Midland were next, both at 6.2 percent.

January 2010 Unemployment

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Ross Ramsey co-founded The Texas Tribune in 2009 and served as its executive editor until his retirement in 2022. He wrote regular columns on politics, government and public policy. Before joining the...