As the area’s unemployment rate continued to drop and more jobs were added on a monthly basis, San Antonio teaching jobs saw the second-largest yearly increase in employment, behind only government.
During March, the San Antonio-New Braunfels area’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.4 percent to 7.3 percent, following a decrease from 7.7 percent during February. That decrease keeps the area’s rate below the national average of 9.7 percent.
The San Antonio area had a total non-farm employment of 823,500 workers during March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 821,400 workers during February, but a 1.8 percent decrease from last year.
Only three industries saw a monthly increase in employment, including: leisure and hospitality by 3,800 jobs; other services by 100 jobs; and government by 700 jobs. Employment in the mining and logging, information and financial activities industries remained even over the month with 3,300 jobs; 18,700 jobs; and 64,800 jobs, respectively.
Four industries managed to see a yearly increase in employment, with government adding the most jobs. The industry employed 162,400 workers during March, up from 161,700 workers during February and a 1.6 percent increase from last year.
The education and health services industry saw the second-largest yearly increase, employing 122,500 workers during March, down from 123,700 workers during February, but a 1 percent increase from March 2009.
Employment in the financial activities industry increased by .6 percent over the year, while employment in the other services industry increased by .3 percent between March 2009 and March 2010.
After months and months of steep construction and and manufacturing declines, the information industry took the biggest hit during March when compared to last year. The industry lost 9.2 percent of its workforce during the 12-month period.
Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:
- Mining and logging by 5.7 percent
- Construction by 8.6 percent
- Manufacturing by 6.6 percent
- Trade, transportation and utilities by 3.4 percent
- Professional and business services by 3.6 percent
- Leisure and hospitality by 1.2 percent