Job growth has continued in Texas with more people working in July, but in Port Arthur the numbers are not as promising.

The latest data from the Texas Workforce Commission indicates Port Arthur’s unemployment rate for the month of July saw a slight increase from 9.2 percent the month prior to 9.4 percent. The difference equates to 32 less jobs in the city.

Statewide, Texas added jobs for the fourth consecutive month.

Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.2 percent in July, the lowest monthly unemployment rate since July 2007.

The state’s unemployment rate continues to fall below the nation rate of 5.3 percent and is down from 5.0 percent a year ago, according to a press statement issued by TWC on Friday.

“The steady growth in jobs demonstrates the strength and diversity of the Texas economy,” Andres Alcanta, Texas Workforce Commission chairman, said in the press statement.

In Beaumont, the number of people without jobs rose to 6.1 percent of the workforce compared to 5.7 the month prior for a loss of 60 jobs.

Beaumont’s July unemployment numbers for this year are lower than the 7.7 rate posted last year for the same time period.

Jefferson County as a whole saw a 6.8 July unemployment rate, slightly up from the previous month’s 6.5 percent for a loss of 336 jobs.

The number of people working in July in Jefferson County reflected a 1.6 decrease from the 7.7 percent rate the same time last year.

Orange County posted a job loss during the month of July with 131 few people employed that the month prior. The county’s unemployment rate for July is 8.5 percent compared to 8.1 in June.

For the same period last year, Orange County’s unemployment rate was 8.5 percent.

The lowest rate of unemployment for a Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area belonged to the Midland MSA in July with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.3 percent, followed by the Amarillo MSA wit a 3.4 percent rate and the Austin-Round Rock MSA with a rate of 3.5 percent.

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