Texas unemployment numbers remain at staggering levels

TYLER — Unemployment claims in Texas increased by 505.51% compared to the same week in 2019, according to wallet hub. On Thursday, Jill Gonzalez told KTBB news, “Only West Virginia is doing a little bit worse than Texas. A lot of that has to do with everything from small businesses shutting their doors and not reopening, as well as the travel and tourism industry, with events like conventions and conferences, that are simply not happening.” Gonzalez said some of the unemployed are choosing not to return to the job force. “When were talking about ‘blue-collar’ jobs…there are a lot of people making more money on unemployment. So it does make sense that there are those that are not rushing back into the job market because they are making more money being out of it.”