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The latest news from around North Texas.
The Texas unemployment rate held steady in December at 4.6 percent, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Friday.
The statewide jobless figure was also 4.6 percent in November, according to the commission. The nationwide unemployment rate for December was 4.7 percent.
Texas has added an estimated 210,200 seasonally adjusted jobs since December 2015, with the addition of 800 nonfarm jobs last month, the agency said in a statement.
"Private-sector employment has been strong over the year with overall job growth of 172,600 jobs added," said Commissioner Ruth R. Hughs. "These numbers are a testament to the perseverance and resilience of our Texas employers and the diversity of our Texas economy."
The Amarillo, Austin-Round Rock and Lubbock areas had the lowest unemployment in Texas last month at 3.2 percent, commission officials said. The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area had the state's highest jobless rate in December at 8.2 percent.
The state's education and health services industry recorded the largest private-industry employment gain in December with 7,300 jobs added. Leisure and hospitality employment grew by 3,900 jobs in December. Manufacturing employment expanded by 1,400 jobs, labor officials said.
Texas has added jobs in 20 of the past 21 months, according to the TWC.
