Texas Still Shines When it Comes to Job Creation

Although many western states are struggling to maintain jobs and to grow within the country's current economy, Texas is going against the grain and increasing its number of job offerings.

According to the Austin Business Journal, the Western Blue Chip Economic Forecasts indicated that the state of Texas had the second highest percent of change in terms of job growth over the past year.  In fact, when comparing this July to July of last year, the state saw a 2.4% increase in jobs created.  While the state's percentage increase was second in the nation, with Wyoming having a higher percentage increase at 2.5%, Texas actually had the largest number of new jobs added.  In fact, a total of 250,900 jobs were added in the state during that one year period of time.

Other Western States did not do quite so well.  In fact, many were at the bottom of the list.  These include California, which came in 43rd on the list as well as 45th place Idaho.  Nevada came in 46th on the list, while Arizona came in 49th. 

"Although there are scattered signs the economy may be close to bottoming out, there is little optimism about an actual upturn in Arizona or nationally during the second half of this year," Lee McPheters, senior associate dean of the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University told Austin Business Journal.  "The first stirrings of recovery are not expected until the housing market stabilizes and begins its turnaround."