State economy slowing, data shows
SMU economist Bernard Weinstein talks with The Dallas Morning News about the state of the Texas economy.
By BRENDAN CASE
The Dallas Morning News
The Texas economy is showing more signs of slowing, according to jobs data released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Texas employers cut payrolls by 34,200 jobs in August, while the state unemployment rate edged up to 8.3 percent from 8.2 percent in July.
The net job loss was primarily because of falling government employment, as many temporary 2010 census jobs ended. Texas lost 35,300 government jobs last month.
"More temporary workers in Texas hired by the federal government for the 2010 census were dropped from government payrolls in August," said Tom Pauken, TWC chairman.
Private-sector payrolls showed signs of decelerating. The 1,100-job boost in private-sector employment last month was the smallest gain this year.
"We seem to be tracking what's happening nationally," said Bernard Weinstein, an economist at Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business. "The national economic recovery appears to have hit an air pocket. Let's hope it doesn't completely stall."
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