Workforce

Labor Force and Unemployment

August 2010

Total
Labor  Force

Number
Unemployed

Unemployment
Rate

 County of Cameron

151,517

15,016

9.9%

 County of Hidalgo

296,764

31,527

10.6%

 County of Starr

    24,509

  4,084

16.7%

 County of Willacy

  8,282

  1,021

12.3%

 State of Texas

11,930,847

910,621

  7.6%

2008 Avg Annual *

 County of Cameron

146,027

 9,914

  6.8%

 County of Hidalgo

282,401

20,744

  7.3%

 County of Starr

    7,814

     706

  9.0%

 County of Willacy

  22,107

  2,625

11.9%

 State of Texas

  5.7%

2007 Avg Annual *

 County of Cameron

143,314

  8,562

   6.0%

 County of Hidalgo

272,708

17,958

   6.6%

 County of Starr

    7,567

     616

  8.1%

 County of Willacy

  21,342

  2,267

10.6%

 State of Texas

  4.3%

 Source: Texas Labor Market Information, www.tracer2.com  (as of August 2010)
* Not seasonally adjusted

Commute Patterns

Distribution of Workers

Commute Time

Number of Workers

Region

State

U.S.

 Less than 15 minutes

126,258

33.7%

27.1%

28.8%

 15 to 29 minutes

159,125

42.4%

36.0%

36.1%

 30 to 44 minutes

  63,146

  6.8%

21.1%

19.4%

 45 to 59 minutes

  12,058

  3.2%

  8.4%

 7.6%

 60 or more minutes

  14,621

  3.9%

  7.4%

 8.1%

 Estimated Average Travel Time to Work

22.6 min

28.0 min

27.8 min

 Source: Claritas 2009 Data; (as of May 2009)

Wages by Selected Occupations 

 Management, Business & Financial

SOC Code 1

Starting  Wage

Experienced  Wage

 Sales Manager

11-2022

21.72

49.72

 Computer & Info Systems Manager

11-3021

25.82

51.71

 Industrial Productions Manager

11-3051

24.63

48.00

 Human Resource Manager

11-3049

31.56

56.39

 Purchasing Agent (ex wholesale, retail & farm)

13-1023

13.58

21.76

 H. R. & Labor Relations Specialist

13-1079

16.38

30.58

 Accountant & Auditor

13-2011

15.32

30.01

 Office Administration & Support

SOC Code

Starting
Wage

Experienced  Wage

 Supervisor of Officer Workers

43-1011

11.66

24.81

 Bookkeeping, Accounting Clerk

43-3031

  8.44

14.41

 Payroll & Timekeeping Clerk

43-3051

  8.72

14.02

 Customer Service Rep

43-4051

  7.74

25.97

 Info & Records Clerk

43-4199

  8.89

14.90

 Shipping, Receiving, Traffic Clerk

43-5071

  7.11

12.14

 Executive Secretary & Administrative Assistant

43-6011

11.46

19.68

 Secretary (ex legal, medical)

43-6014

  7.86

12.98

 Data Entry Keyer

43-9021

  7.52

11.58

 Computer & Information Technology

SOC Code

Starting
Wage

Experienced  Wage

 Computer Programmer

15-1021

14.30

26.99

 Network & Computer Systems Administrator

15-1071

14.84

24.52

 Architecture & Engineering

SOC Code

Starting
Wage

Experienced  Wage

 Civil Engineer

17-2051

22.59

37.74

 Electronics Engineer (ex computer)

17-2072

27.88

34.78

 Mechanical Engineer

17-2141

29.54

46.47

 Architectural & Civil Drafter

17-3011

  7.47

15.71

 Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technician

17-3023

16.03

30.30

 Construction & Maintenance

SOC Code

Starting
Wage

Experienced  Wage

 Supervisor of Trades Workers

47-1011

11.80

21.55

 Carpenter

47-2031

  7.81

12.15

 Construction Laborer

47-2061

  6.84

9.43

 Equipment Operator

47-2073

  9.68

13.35

 Electrician

47-2111

  9.44

15.23

 Painter

47-2141

  8.12

12.52

 Auto Service Mechanic & Technician

49-3023

  7.81

17.08

 Industrial Machinery Mechanic

49-9041

  9.39

20.11

 Maintenance & Repair Worker

49-9042

  7.28

11.66

 Machinery Maintenance

49-9043

  8.29

15.39

 Production & Transportation

SOC Code

Starting
Wage

Experienced  Wage

 Production Supervisor

51-1011

11.77

21.57

 Team Assemblers

51-2092

  6.80

  9.46

 Assembler & Fabricator

51-2099

  6.88

  8.99

 Computer Controlled Machine Tool Operator

51-4011

  8.64

11.79

 Grinding, Lapping, Polishing Machine Tool Setters

51-4033

  7.93

10.60

 Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators

51-4034

  7.58

11.92

 Machinist

51-4041

  8.71

14.24

 Tool & Die Maker

51-4111

12.48

18.07

 Welder, Cutter, Solderer, Brazer

51-4121

  7.85

13.93

 Quality Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, Weigher

51-9061

  6.85

13.08

 Truck Driver, Heavy

53-3032

  8.98

17.61

 Truck Driver, Light

53-3033

  7.32

13.18

 Conveyor Operator

53-7011

  7.32

  9.49

 Industrial Truck & Tractor Operator

53-7051

  6.83

10.21

 Material Movers

53-7062

  6.75

  8.85

 Life & Physical Science

SOC Code

Starting
Wage

Experienced  Wage

 Agricultural & Food Science Technician

19-4011

   8.85

15.40

 Environmental Science Technician

19-4091

 16.79

 25.44

 Healthcare Practitioners & Technical

SOC Code

Starting
Wage

Experienced  Wage

 Registered Nurse

29-1111

22.88

34.27

 Physical Therapist

29-1123

27.59

47.01

 Medical & Clinical Lab Technician

29-2012

  9.81

15.01

 LPN and LVN

29-2061

14.43

21.92

 Medical Records Technician

29-2071

  8.66

14.58

 Physical Therapist Assistant

31-2021

 15.49

40.39

 Medical Transcriptionist

31-9094

 10.09

18.01

 Sales, Marketing, Design & Related

SOC Code

Starting  Wage

Experienced Wage

 Graphic Designer

27-1024

  9.92

17.29

 Retail Sales Person

41-2031

  6.70

10.92

 Sales Rep (mfg. technical, scientific)

41-4011

12.70

37.05

 Sales Rep (services, all other)

41-3099

10.10

26.52

 Source: Texas Labor Market Information (http://www.tracer2.com); 2009 data annual average of region’s MSA (as of May 2009) 
 (1) Standard Occupational Code

 Employment Taxes & Mandated Benefits

Tax / Benefit

Rate / Basis

Administering Agency

 Disability Insurance

 Employment Training Tax

 Unemployment Insurance *

0.26% to 6.26% on

$9,000 taxable wage base
Average rate is 0.99%

Texas Workforce Commission

Tax Department

101 E. 15^th Street

Austin, TX 78778

 Workers' Compensation

Non-mandatory

 Family Leave

 Source: Texas Workforce Commission, Tax Department.  (www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/tax/uitaxrates)  (as of May 2009)

* New employers start at a tax rate of 2.7% or the applicable industry average tax rate for their NAICS, whichever is higher. Employers keep the entry level rate for approximately 18 months