7% of Travis County residents were unemployed in January 2011

We have adequate income, resources and supports to live independent lives.

Indicator: Unemployment Rate for Travis County

Significance of Indicator: A low unemployment rate indicates strong economic activity with businesses running at a high capacity. The Brookings Institution has found that unemployment causes steep reductions in family income. Rapid increases in unemployment lead to substantial increases in community poverty.

what the data tell us

Since the beginning of the most recent recession, unemployment rates have increased across the nation. While there was a slight decline in unemployment rates from 2010-2011, many people are still struggling to find work.

Definition: The percentage of individuals ages 16 and older seeking work who are in the civilian labor force

Data Source: Texas Labor Market Information

Data Considerations: This data is specific to people who are in the labor force, meaning that they are either employed or actively seeking employment. People that are not included in unemployment rate data include members of the armed forces, students, homemakers, and retired workers.

The Story Behind the indicator

Workforce Solutions—Capital Area reports that most of the unemployed in our region are people who do not have college degrees. To decrease the unemployment rate and ensure that people have jobs that pay a living wage, there must be an increase in the percentage of people who complete some type of post-secondary degree. There are a couple of complicating factors though. The Literacy Coalition of Central Texas reports that 12% of all adults ages 16 and over in Central Texas do not even have the minimum literacy skills necessary to enroll in a GED class. This would prevent them from entering college studies or advanced job certification programs. Austin Community College reports that even when students do enroll in college or in job certification programs, they are often required to take remedial classes. This frustrates students and may cause them to drop out without completing a degree. To learn more about the story behind unemployment in our community, click here.

Some local efforts to improve this indicator

The Austin Chamber of Commerce has an economic development initiative that strives to create jobs, diversify the economy, attract new businesses, and retain and grow existing businesses.
Austin Community College is the primary trainer and re-trainer of the local workforce providing high-quality education.
The Literacy Coalition of Central Texas is dedicated to supporting and expanding literacy services so that businesses can hire, people can work, and families can thrive.
Workforce Solutions—Capital Area provides a number of job-search assistance and employment-related services.

A Closer look at the story behind the indicators

In 2009, persons with no post-secondary degree make up approximately 84% of unemployment insurance claimants, but only constitute 55% of the total population.

Definition: % of people ages 16 and older who have filed for unemployment insurance by educational attainment

Data Source: Workforce Solutions—Capital Area, Texas Workforce Commission

Data Considerations: Unemployment insurance benefits are provided to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Persons who may not be included in this data are those who quit or were fired from their jobs and those who have been unemployed for extended periods of time and whose unemployment insurance benefits have expired.

There was an overrepresentation of black unemployment claimants compared to the percentage of the population that they constitute in 2009. There was also an underrepresentation of Hispanics in unemployment claimants, but that could be because they are such a youthful population.

Definition: % of people ages 16 and older who have filed for unemployment insurance by race/ethnicity

Data Source: Workforce Solutions—Capital Area, Texas Workforce Commission