Unemployment rates are up in Washington County and the surrounding area to start 2023.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the county’s January unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, up a full percentage point from the rate of 3.3 percent in December.

The number of unemployed residents shot up from 500 in December to 656 in January.

Employment totals fell slightly from 14,465 in December to 14,451 in January. Meanwhile, the civilian labor force grew from 14,965 in December to 15,107 in January.

In January 2022, Washington County’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, with 709 people jobless.

The state’s unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9 percent from 3.8 percent in December.

Unemployment rates around the region also grew:

• Austin County – 4 percent, up from 3.2 percent in December.
• Brazos County – 3.4 percent, up from 2.6 percent.
• Burleson County – 3.8 percent, up from 3.2 percent.
• Fayette County – 3.7 percent, up from 3.1 percent in December.
• Grimes County – 4.7 percent, up from 4 percent.
• Lee County – 3.7 percent, up from 3.1 percent.
• Waller County – 4.9 percent, up from 3.9 percent.

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