Gonzales County sees slight increase in unemployment rate

Unemployment in Gonzales County increased to 3.8 percent in October 2024, up 0.1 percent from the 3.7 percent recorded for September 2024, with the county continuing to place the third-highest of all seven counties which comprise the Golden Crescent Workforce Development Area, according to state Labor Market Information (LMI) figures released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

For the entire Golden Crescent Workforce Development Area, the unemployment rate for September 2024 was at 3.9 percent, lower than the state average of 4.1 percent. This represented a total of 3,579 residents in Gonzales, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca and Victoria counties seeking employment out of a total workforce of 92,780 people. This represents a decrease of 311 people in the labor force and 116 more individuals claiming unemployment.

The counties reporting in lower than Gonzales County are Calhoun County, with the lowest unemployment rate at 3.2 percent, followed by Calhoun County at 3.3 percent; DeWitt County at 3.6 percent, and Jackson County following at 3.7 percent. Next are Gonzales County at 3.8 percent while rounding out are Goliad County and Victoria County tied in the highest position at 4.2 percent.

For October 2024, there were 359 individuals in Gonzales County seeking employment out of a workforce of 9,438 with 9,079 reported as employed. In September 2024, there were 351 people seeking work in Gonzales County out of an employment force of 9,512 for a total unemployment rate of 3.7 percent. There were 9,161 people reported as employed.

In October 2023, Gonzales County had an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent as there were 304 individuals in Gonzales County seeking employment out of a workforce of 9,362 with 9,058 reported as employed. Unemployment has not been below 3 percent in Gonzales County since December 2022, when it was 2.7 percent. Unemployment rates since October 2022 for Gonzales County are:

• October 2022, 3.1 percent

• November 2022, 3.1 percent

• December 2022, 2.7 percent

• January 2023, 3.7 percent

• February 2023, 4.0 percent

• March 2023, 3.5 percent

• April 2023, 3.2 percent

• May 2023, 3.5 percent

• June 2023, 3.7 percent

• July 2023, 4.0 percent

• August 2023, 4.0 percent

• September 2023, 3.5 percent

• October 2023, 3.3 percent

• November 2023, 3.1 percent

• January 2024, 3.7 percent

• February 2024, 4.0 percent

• March 2024, 3.7 percent

• April 2024, 3.2 percent

• May 2024, 3.5 percent

• June 2024, 4.1 percent

• July 2024, 4.0 percent

• August 2024, 4.1 percent

• September 2024, 3.7 percent

• October 2024, 3.8 percent