Unemployment rate increases to 3.5 percent in Gonzales County

Unemployment in Gonzales County increased to 3.5 percent in May 2024, up 0.3 percent from the 3.2 percent recorded for April 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 May 2024 was also 3.5 percent, lower than the state average of 3.8 percent. This represented a total of 3,234 residents in Gonzales, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca and Victoria counties seeking employment out of a total workforce of 92,022 people. This represents a decrease of 169 people in the labor force and an additional individuals claiming unemployment.

The counties reporting in lower than Gonzales County areLavacaCounty, with the lowest unemployment rate at 2.9 percent, followed by Calhoun and Dewitt Counties at 3.2 percent, Jackson County following at 3.3 percent. Gonzales follows with 3.5 percent, andGoliad with 3.7 percent, rounding out with Victoria County closing in the highest position(s) at 3.8 percent.

For May 2024, there were 330 individuals in Gonzales County seeking employment out of a workforce of 9,509 with 9,179 reported as employed. In April 2024, there were 304 people seeking work in Gonzales County out of an employment force of 9,630 for a total unemployment rate of 3.2 percent. There were 9,326 people reported as employed.

In May 2023, Gonzales County had an unemployment rate of 3.3 percent as there were 314 individuals in Gonzales County seeking employment out of a workforce of 9,489 with 9,175 reported as employed. Unemployment has not been below 3 percent since December 2022, when it was 2.7 percent. Unemployment rates since May 2022 for Gonzales County are:
• May 2022, 2.7 percent

• June 2022, 3.5 percent

• July 2022, 3.2 percent

• August 2022, 3.2 percent

• September 2022, 3.1 percent

• 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