Department of Numbers

Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Brownsville fell 0.2 percentage points in November 2023 to 5.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.3 percentage points higher than the Texas rate. The unemployment rate in Brownsville peaked in April 2020 at 16.1% and is now 10.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.4% in October 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Brownsville unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Texas 4.1% 0.0 +0.3
Brownsville 5.4% -0.2 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Brownsville, Texas, National

Brownsville, Texas monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Brownsville, Texas Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Brownsville peaked in April 2020 at 26,088. There are now 16,162 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 9,703 in October 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 223. Brownsville employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Brownsville, Texas) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Brownsville 9,926 -248 +211

Number of Unemployed Persons

Brownsville, Texas Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Texas
Unemployment Rate
Brownsville
Unemployment Rate
Brownsville
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 4.1% 5.4% 9,926
October
2023
3.8% 4.1% 5.6% 10,174
September
2023
3.8% 4.1% 5.7% 10,283
August
2023
3.8% 4.1% 5.8% 10,382
July
2023
3.5% 4.1% 5.7% 10,346
June
2023
3.6% 4.1% 5.7% 10,333
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 5.8% 10,458
April
2023
3.4% 4.0% 5.7% 10,261
March
2023
3.5% 4.0% 5.7% 10,218
February
2023
3.6% 4.0% 5.6% 9,974
January
2023
3.4% 3.9% 5.5% 9,752

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.