The Condition of Employment Opportunities
LIBERTY, September 17, 2004 - The unemployment rate is one measure of the economic condition of a community. Below is a table, which gives the unemployment rate statistics for a thirteen county area in Southeast Texas of which Liberty County is a part.
| Unemployment Rates for 13 County Area Sorted in Ascending Order | ||||||||
|
2004
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Average
Rate
|
|
| TEXAS |
Rate
|
6.7
|
6.1
|
6
|
5.6
|
5.7
|
6.5
|
6.1
|
| WALKER COUNTY |
Rate
|
3.6
|
2.9
|
2.8
|
2.5
|
2.7
|
3.3
|
3
|
| AUSTIN COUNTY |
Rate
|
4.8
|
4.2
|
4.1
|
3.6
|
3.6
|
3.9
|
4
|
| COLORADO COUNTY |
Rate
|
5.6
|
5.3
|
4.9
|
4.1
|
4.3
|
4.7
|
4.8
|
| MONTGOMERY COUNTY |
Rate
|
5.5
|
5.3
|
5.3
|
4.9
|
5
|
5.5
|
5.3
|
| FORT BEND COUNTY |
Rate
|
5.7
|
5.4
|
5.3
|
5
|
5.1
|
5.7
|
5.4
|
| CHAMBERS COUNTY |
Rate
|
6.2
|
5.5
|
5.8
|
5.4
|
5.6
|
6.8
|
5.9
|
| WHARTON COUNTY |
Rate
|
6.9
|
6.2
|
6.1
|
5.6
|
6.2
|
7.3
|
6.4
|
| WALLER COUNTY |
Rate
|
6.8
|
6.2
|
6.1
|
5.6
|
6
|
7.8
|
6.4
|
| HARRIS COUNTY |
Rate
|
6.9
|
6.4
|
6.4
|
6.1
|
6.3
|
7.1
|
6.5
|
| GALVESTON COUNTY |
Rate
|
8.1
|
7.6
|
7.7
|
7.2
|
7.6
|
8.5
|
7.8
|
| BRAZORIA COUNTY |
Rate
|
8.7
|
8.1
|
8.2
|
7.6
|
8.2
|
9.5
|
8.4
|
| LIBERTY COUNTY |
Rate
|
11.3
|
9.7
|
9.7
|
9.4
|
10.6
|
12.2
|
10.5
|
| MATAGORDA COUNTY |
Rate
|
15
|
13.8
|
12.8
|
12.4
|
12.9
|
15.7
|
13.8
|
| WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE CITY |
Rate
|
1.6
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
1.7
|
1.6
|
| KINGWOOD CITY |
Rate
|
2.4
|
2.2
|
2.2
|
2.1
|
2.2
|
2.5
|
2.3
|
| BELLAIRE CITY |
Rate
|
2.7
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.4
|
2.4
|
2.8
|
2.6
|
| FIRST COLONY CITY |
Rate
|
2.7
|
2.6
|
2.5
|
2.4
|
2.5
|
2.8
|
2.6
|
| WEBSTER CITY |
Rate
|
3
|
2.7
|
2.7
|
2.6
|
2.7
|
3.1
|
2.8
|
| PECAN GROVE CITY |
Rate
|
3.3
|
3.2
|
3.1
|
2.9
|
3
|
3.4
|
3.2
|
| THE WOODLANDS CITY |
Rate
|
3.4
|
3.3
|
3.2
|
3
|
3
|
3.4
|
3.2
|
| LEAGUE CITY |
Rate
|
3.6
|
3.4
|
3.4
|
3.2
|
3.4
|
3.8
|
3.5
|
| HUNTSVILLE CITY |
Rate
|
4.2
|
3.5
|
3.4
|
3
|
3.2
|
3.9
|
3.5
|
| MISSOURI CITY |
Rate
|
3.7
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
3.3
|
3.4
|
3.8
|
3.5
|
| KATY CITY |
Rate
|
3.9
|
3.6
|
3.6
|
3.4
|
3.5
|
4
|
3.7
|
| FRIENDSWOOD CITY |
Rate
|
4.1
|
3.8
|
3.9
|
3.7
|
3.8
|
4.3
|
3.9
|
| MISSION BEND CITY |
Rate
|
4.2
|
3.9
|
3.9
|
3.7
|
3.8
|
4.2
|
4
|
| SPRING CITY |
Rate
|
4.4
|
4.1
|
4.1
|
3.9
|
4.1
|
4.6
|
4.2
|
| COLUMBUS CITY |
Rate
|
4.9
|
4.7
|
4.3
|
3.6
|
3.8
|
4.1
|
4.2
|
| TOMBALL CITY |
Rate
|
4.6
|
4.3
|
4.3
|
4.1
|
4.2
|
4.8
|
4.4
|
| SUGAR LAND CITY |
Rate
|
4.7
|
4.5
|
4.4
|
4.2
|
4.3
|
4.8
|
4.5
|
| SEABROOK CITY |
Rate
|
4.8
|
4.4
|
4.4
|
4.2
|
4.4
|
5
|
4.5
|
| HUMBLE CITY |
Rate
|
5.1
|
4.7
|
4.7
|
4.6
|
4.7
|
5.3
|
4.9
|
| LA PORTE CITY |
Rate
|
5.2
|
4.8
|
4.8
|
4.6
|
4.7
|
5.4
|
4.9
|
| PEARLAND CITY |
Rate
|
5.4
|
4.9
|
5
|
4.7
|
5
|
5.8
|
5.1
|
| STAFFORD CITY |
Rate
|
5.7
|
5.4
|
5.3
|
5
|
5.1
|
5.7
|
5.4
|
| LAKE JACKSON CITY |
Rate
|
5.7
|
5.2
|
5.3
|
4.9
|
5.3
|
6.2
|
5.4
|
| CONROE CITY |
Rate
|
5.8
|
5.6
|
5.6
|
5.2
|
5.3
|
5.9
|
5.6
|
| SANTA FE CITY |
Rate
|
6.1
|
5.8
|
5.8
|
5.5
|
5.8
|
6.5
|
5.9
|
| CHANNELVIEW CITY |
Rate
|
7
|
6.5
|
6.5
|
6.2
|
6.4
|
7.3
|
6.7
|
| ROSENBERG CITY |
Rate
|
7.1
|
6.8
|
6.6
|
6.3
|
6.4
|
7.2
|
6.7
|
| PASADENA CITY |
Rate
|
7.4
|
6.8
|
6.8
|
6.6
|
6.7
|
7.6
|
7
|
| EL CAMPO CITY |
Rate
|
7.8
|
7
|
6.9
|
6.4
|
7
|
8.3
|
7.2
|
| BAYTOWN CITY |
Rate
|
7.9
|
7.3
|
7.3
|
7
|
7.2
|
8.1
|
7.5
|
| ALVIN CITY |
Rate
|
7.8
|
7.2
|
7.3
|
6.8
|
7.3
|
8.5
|
7.5
|
| CLOVERLEAF CITY |
Rate
|
7.9
|
7.3
|
7.3
|
7
|
7.2
|
8.2
|
7.5
|
| CLUTE CITY |
Rate
|
8.1
|
7.4
|
7.5
|
7
|
7.5
|
8.8
|
7.7
|
| SOUTH HOUSTON CITY |
Rate
|
8.2
|
7.6
|
7.6
|
7.3
|
7.5
|
8.4
|
7.8
|
| ALDINE CITY |
Rate
|
8.2
|
7.6
|
7.6
|
7.3
|
7.5
|
8.5
|
7.8
|
| HOUSTON CITY |
Rate
|
8.2
|
7.6
|
7.6
|
7.3
|
7.5
|
8.5
|
7.8
|
| GALENA PARK CITY |
Rate
|
8.3
|
7.7
|
7.6
|
7.4
|
7.6
|
8.5
|
7.9
|
| ANGLETON CITY |
Rate
|
8.9
|
8.2
|
8.4
|
7.8
|
8.3
|
9.7
|
8.6
|
| WHARTON CITY |
Rate
|
9.5
|
8.6
|
8.4
|
7.8
|
8.5
|
10
|
8.8
|
| TEXAS CITY |
Rate
|
9.4
|
8.9
|
9
|
8.5
|
9
|
10
|
9.1
|
| DICKINSON CITY |
Rate
|
9.6
|
9.1
|
9.2
|
8.6
|
9.1
|
10.2
|
9.3
|
| GALVESTON CITY |
Rate
|
10.4
|
9.8
|
9.9
|
9.4
|
9.9
|
11
|
10.1
|
| RICHMOND CITY |
Rate
|
11.4
|
10.8
|
10.7
|
10.1
|
10.3
|
11.4
|
10.8
|
| LA MARQUE CITY |
Rate
|
11.3
|
10.7
|
10.8
|
10.2
|
10.8
|
12
|
11
|
| JACINTO CITY |
Rate
|
12.2
|
11.3
|
11.3
|
10.9
|
11.2
|
12.6
|
11.6
|
| BAY CITY |
Rate
|
15.2
|
14
|
12.9
|
12.6
|
13.1
|
15.9
|
14
|
| FREEPORT CITY |
Rate
|
15.8
|
14.7
|
14.9
|
13.9
|
14.9
|
17.1
|
15.2
|
| LIBERTY CITY |
Rate
|
16.6
|
14.5
|
14.3
|
13.9
|
15.7
|
17.9
|
15.5
|
| PALACIOS CITY |
Rate
|
23.6
|
21.9
|
20.4
|
19.9
|
20.7
|
24.6
|
21.9
|
You notice that Liberty County and Matagorda County are on the bottom of table, as is the City of Liberty, TX and Palacious, TX with the worst unemployment rates in the 13 county area. Although this has been the situation for some time it’s important to look at trends, which identify which way things are going and may point to future conditions.
The table below is a comparison of Liberty and Matagorda Counties and the Cities of Liberty and Palacious.
| Unemployment Rate Comparison 2002 to 2004 over First Half of Each Year | ||||||||
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Average
|
||
| TEXAS |
Rate
2004
|
6.7
|
6.1
|
6
|
5.6
|
5.7
|
6.5
|
6.1
|
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Average
|
||
| LIBERTY COUNTY |
Rate
2002
|
8
|
7.6
|
7.6
|
7.8
|
8.9
|
11.4
|
8.6
|
| LIBERTY COUNTY |
Rate
2003
|
10
|
9.8
|
9.2
|
9.6
|
10.2
|
12.2
|
10.2
|
| LIBERTY COUNTY |
Rate
2004
|
11.3
|
9.7
|
9.7
|
9.4
|
10.6
|
12.2
|
10.5
|
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Average
|
||
| LIBERTY CITY |
Rate
2002
|
12
|
11.4
|
11.4
|
11.7
|
13.3
|
16.8
|
12.8
|
| LIBERTY CITY |
Rate
2003
|
14.8
|
14.6
|
13.6
|
14.3
|
15.2
|
17.9
|
15.1
|
| LIBERTY CITY |
Rate
2004
|
16.6
|
14.5
|
14.3
|
13.9
|
15.7
|
17.9
|
15.5
|
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Average
|
||
| MATAGORDA COUNTY |
Rate
2002
|
12.5
|
11.7
|
11.5
|
11.5
|
12
|
14.5
|
12.3
|
| MATAGORDA COUNTY |
Rate
2003
|
15.7
|
14.3
|
13.2
|
13.4
|
15
|
17.3
|
14.8
|
| MATAGORDA COUNTY |
Rate
2004
|
15
|
13.8
|
12.8
|
12.4
|
12.9
|
15.7
|
13.8
|
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Average
|
||
| PALACIOS CITY |
Rate
2002
|
19.9
|
18.8
|
18.5
|
18.5
|
19.2
|
22.9
|
19.6
|
| PALACIOS CITY |
Rate
2003
|
24.6
|
22.6
|
21
|
21.3
|
23.5
|
26.8
|
23.3
|
| PALACIOS CITY |
Rate
2004
|
23.6
|
21.9
|
20.4
|
19.9
|
20.7
|
24.6
|
21.9
|
As you can see from the table, the average unemployment rates in Liberty County and the City of Liberty for the first half of 2002, 2003 and 2004 has increased. Liberty County and the City of Liberty were considerably better off in 2002 than today. However, The unemployment rate in Matagorda County and the City of Palacious showed improvement in 2004, with a lower unemployment rate in each month in the first half of 2004 over the same months in 2003.
Matagorda County is located on the coast of Southeast Texas southwest of Houston.
Matagorda County has half the population density of Liberty County with about 30 people per square mile with Liberty County having about 60 people per square mile. It is rural with Cattle Ranching, Aqua Culture taking up the vast majority of the land area. These industries take lots of land area but produce few jobs except at round up or harvest time.
The economy of Palacious is largely driven by the fishing industry and now mostly owned and controlled by people from South Vietnam who were relocated to the area in the 1970's. Since their arrival they have become vertically integrated and operate seafood processing facilities and boat maintenance businesses in the area as well as convenience stores and restaurants. According to Matagorda County Commissioner, Leonard Lamar half of the fishing boats in Palacious are owned by Vietnamese fisherman.
According to Commissioner Lamar, Matagorda County is booming and it’s the development and construction of waterfront homes, subdivisions and condominiums in the area that is boosting the local economy. The development is fueled by money coming from Houston, which brings construction jobs and ultimately tourism dollars to Matagorda County.
Matagorda County is blessed with a coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, which many see as a desirable place for leisure living and recreation. Landowners and entrepreneurs have recognized this community asset and are exploiting it for the benefit of the local population.
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