It's not booming, but business in Texas is picking up. Economists say economic growth across the Southwest will be slow this spring and that Texas' unemployment rate flat-lined at 6.9 percent in May. But overall, Texas has a tolerable economic outlook compared with 2010, when the unemployment rate peaked at 8.2 percent. On Tuesday, the U.S. Census Bureau released county-level data of business patterns across Texas in 2010. Nationally, the number of paid employees declined by 2.5 million from 2009 to 2010. Across Texas, businesses dropped more than 139,000 paid employees. At the same time, annual payrolls in Texas increased by $10 million, and 3,100 more business establishments reported jobs. The graphs below show Texas' progress through the recession, according to the census data.
Flip through the maps below to see the number of paid employees by industry, as of March 2010. Click on a county to see full industry details below.
| Industry | Mid-March Employment | Annual Payroll (in Thousands) | Number of Business Establishments | Industry | Mid-March Employment | Annual Payroll (in Thousands) | Number of Business Establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Total | - | - | - | Real estate and rental and leasing | - | - | - |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | - | - | - | Professional, scientific, and technical services | - | - | - |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | - | - | - | Management of companies and enterprises | - | - | - |
| Utilities | - | - | - | Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | - | - | - |
| Construction | - | - | - | Educational services | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | - | - | - | Health care and social assistance | - | - | - |
| Wholesale trade | - | - | - | Arts, entertainment, and recreation | - | - | - |
| Retail trade | - | - | - | Accommodation and food services | - | - | - |
| Transportation and warehousing | - | - | - | Other services (except public administration) | - | - | - |
| Information | - | - | - | Industries not classified | - | - | - |
| Finance and insurance | - | - | - |
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Comments (1)
Adele Roberson
.
The Texas insurance commissioner says there is nothing she can do right now for consumers. Tell her that's an unnacceptable answer for Texas families.
During a committee hearing to discuss problems in the home insurance market, she was asked if she had any ideas for how to give Texas homeowners insurance rate relief. Her only suggestions might have an impact years - or decades - from now. She said there was nothing that could be done to give Texas families immediate relief.
Really, Commissioner?
During that same hearing, Senators heard solutions from a number of sources that would improve the market today. Everything from empowering consumers to generate real price competition by simplifying the market to standardizing insurance rate filings to eliminating exotic reinsurance arrangements to reining in out of control administrative costs.
Take Action Now! Tell the insurance commissioner we need immediate relief from sky high rates on stripped-down junk policies. Texas families deserve decent coverage at a fair price now! Caroline Sellars
Outreach Director texaswatch@texaswatch.org