BRAZOS COUNTY, TX — The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released the unemployment rates for the month of May for the state of Texas. Among the lowest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is Bryan/College Station.
The unemployment rates for the month of May has Bryan-College Station tied with Amarillo for the lowest rate of 8.9% in the state.
“Fortunately as the pandemic began, we were consistently in the top three as far as the lowest unemployment in the state,” said Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce President Glen Brewer
With a .4% decrease from the month of April, the decline is due to rising employment in Brazos County.
“Sure, it's all been do to operation restart," said Brewer.
As the number of employed residents in May stood at nearly 111,000, the local number of unemployed only fell by 50 to 10,890.
“Some people that have gone on unemployment, their unemployment benefits may be more attractive to them right now than going back an getting their job, so it's kind of hard to get some people in these entry-level jobs,” said Brewer.
Throughout the pandemic, small businesses were arguably hit hardest. Since reopening some local small businesses have been able to bring employees back
“I’ve recently come back and I am able to work again,” said Bird's Nest Gifts & Antiques Manager Chrissy Sayers.
As the local economy rebounds, the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation says Brazos County’s central location to Texas’ major metropolitan cities serves as a great location for new and pre-existing businesses.
“What the Brazos Valley is really focused on is in those targets. Industries sectors are the strengths of what’s happening with Texas A&M University and Blinn College district and our education partners in terms of preparing our talent,” said Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Matt Prochaska.
The unemployment rate, although falling, remains sky-high by historical standards. But the reopening of the economy is working, slowly, both here and in other Texas MSA’s, to gradually move us in the direction of greater economic health.