Texas jobless claims moved sharply in both directions around the Thanksgiving period, according to the latest federal data. Initial claims fell steeply in late November, then jumped again in the week ending Dec. 6.
Initial Jobless Claims Fall
For the week ending Nov. 29, Texas recorded 11,647 unadjusted initial claims, a drop of 7,836 from the previous week. That decline ranked among the largest decreases in the country for that week, alongside California, New York, Illinois and Florida. DOL
By the week ending Dec. 6, Texas jobless claims climbed again. New unadjusted initial claims reached 19,297, up 7,650 from the prior week’s low. The latest figure illustrates how quickly weekly claims can swing during the holiday season.
Texas Jobless Claims Change
Insured unemployment in Texas also moved higher. For the week ending Nov. 29, Texans receiving benefits under regular state programs totaled 167,112, up 19,295 from 147,817 a week earlier. That increase outpaced many other large states during the same period.
The national report showed a seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate of 1.2 percent and total unadjusted insured unemployment of 1,964,961. Within that total, Texas carried one of the largest state claimant pools, reflecting the size of the state’s workforce as well as current layoff patterns.
Federal officials again stressed that weekly claim numbers show strong seasonal swings, especially around major holidays. Fluctuations in construction, retail, warehousing and other seasonal industries often drive those swings.
For Houston-area workers and employers, Texas jobless claims will remain a key barometer as the year closes, signaling short-term shifts in layoffs and rehiring across the state’s energy, logistics, manufacturing and service sectors.
