Employment News

Close to 500 new jobs were created in Mission in 2013 and the City’s unemployment dropped to the lowest rate in five years, according to the latest statistics from Texas Workforce Commission.

Mission’s annual average unemployment rate sunk to 8.5 percent, the lowest since 2008, and November’s 8 percent jobless rate was one the lowest single months for the City in the last five years. Mission’s unemployment rate bested both of the Valley’s metro areas and is third best in Hidalgo County just behind McAllen and Edinburg.

“Mission’s Mayor, the City Commission, EDC board and Chamber are working together to create more jobs. Mission is an attractive place to grow or relocate your business,” said Alex Meade, Mission Economic Development Corporation CEO. “The expansion of Royal Technologies Corporation is a perfect example of that synergy. We are confident that 2014 will continue to be as successful because of that formula.”

Mission employed 29,530 people in the City in December, the most ever since the Workforce Commission has kept separate statistics for cities in Texas. That’s also 465 more that were employed at the beginning of the year (Jan.); a significant net gain for the City.

The previous November had 29,377 working in the city, the second most ever and the month had an 8 percent unemployment rate. That month was part of six consecutive months, June through November, in the jobless rate reductions in Mission.

“Our retail, manufacturing and government sectors remain strong and continue to add jobs,” said Meade. “This is a testament to the strong economy in the State of Texas and the Valley as a whole.”

The unemployment rate for the Hidalgo County metro area (McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA) in December 2013 was 10.2 percent, and for Cameron County it was 9.5 percent. Annual unemployment rates for the City of Mission for the last five years are as follows:

[1] Texas Workforce Commission http://www.tracer2.com/cgi/dataanalysis