The nationwide recession is hitting some regions harder than others, and the city of Houston is unfortunately being hit with a high unemployment rate.
The Houston Business Journal reports that Houston's unemployment rate topped 8.8 percent in January, which was up from 8.2 percent in December. The unemployment rate for December 2008, one year prior, was only at 6.5 percent.
To put these numbers in perspective, the state's average unemployment rate in January was 8.2 percent, which was unchanged from December 2009. Houston has seen the highest unemployment rate among the five largest metropolitan areas in Texas, according to Xinhua. The said metropolitan areas in Texas include Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth, in addition to Houston. Austin, for example, had an unemployment rate of only 7.6 percent in January and San Antonio was just slightly higher with a rate of 7.7 percent.
With a higher rate of unemployment, Houston employment lawyers may soon see an increase in wrongful termination lawsuits and workers compensation claims. And while 8.8 percent might seem like a high unemployment rate, Houston still stands in better shape than the rest of the country. Xinhua reports that the U.S unemployment rate is currently a shocking 9.7 percent.
The economy in the lone star state continues to draw nationwide attention. Some economists predict that the state of Texas wil be the first to emerge from the nationwide economic recession. Perhaps this is because more private sector jobs exist in Texas, compared to any other state.
Related Resources:
- Layoff Preparation and Survival Tips (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life Blog)
- Preparing for an Unemployment Hearing (FindLaw)
- Houston Employment Lawyers Directory (FindLaw)
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