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Texas Jobless Rate Slips To 5.5 Percent In March

AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM/AP) -- The Texas unemployment rate has slipped to 5.5 percent and compares favorably to the national average of 6.7 percent.

The Texas Workforce Commission announced on Friday the March unemployment figure, compared to a 5.7 percent statewide jobless rate in both January and February.

"The Texas economy continues to move in the right direction with Texas employers adding 310,000 jobs over the year," said TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar. "All 11 of the major industries experienced annual job growth, with five industries exceeding growth rates of 3.0 percent."

The TWC says Texas employers added 9,100 jobs in March alone.

The Midland area had the lowest jobless rate last month across Texas, at 2.7 percent. TWC figures show the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area had the state's highest unemployment rate at 9.4 percent.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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