http://www.mysanantonio.com/business....56930ec7.html
By William Pack
Express-News Business Writer
San Antonio-area employers added 2,000 jobs in December as job growth for the year jumped by 20,100 positions or 2.5 percent, the Texas Workforce Commission reported.
No unemployment rate was available for San Antonio and other metropolitan areas because freezing weather kept officials from processing that information this week. Statewide, the unemployment rate was calculated, falling to 4.5 percent from 4.7 percent in November. The commission said the drop set another five-year low. In San Antonio, the biggest gainer was the sector that includes retail trade, which, pushed by holiday sales, jumped by 2,100 jobs for the month.
The manufacturing sector had over-the-month job gains of 500. Officials said that sector is led by the new Toyota truck plant and other durable goods manufacturers, which have added 2,100 jobs since December 2005. That equates to a 7.8 percent growth rate.
Aaron Smith, labor market expert for Alamo WorkSource, said the 2.5 percent annual growth rate in December is strong, about the same as was initially reported last year in December. The job growth number was revised higher, past 3 percent, when more complete data came in. Smith said a similar jump could happen once revisions are made this year.
“It\'s good news,” said Smith. “We really came on strong toward the end of the year.”
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