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Texas Workforce Solutions said that the unemployment rate in Texas dropped to 6.8 percent in September.

This is down from Augusts unemployment rate of 7.1 percent and the national unemployment rate of 7.8 percent.

In Texas, total of 21,000 nonfarm jobs were added in September and 262,700 jobs have been added since last year.

Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Andres Alcantar said that Texas has a record number of people employed in the state.

“We saw encouraging signs in our state’s labor market in September and a decrease in the unemployment rate last month,” said Alcantar.

According to Workforce Solutions, seven of the 11 major industries in Texas have expanded in September.

Professional and Business Services has seen the largest gain in employment opportunities with 13,600 jobs added in September.

Employment in Trade, Transportation and Utilities grew by 9,100 positions, and jobs in Education and Health Services saw an increase by 6,000 jobs.

Jobs in Leisure and Hospitality saw an increase with 3,700 jobs added.

In the Rio Grande Valley, the unemployment rate averages 10.35 percent for September.

The Brownsville/Harlingen area saw a decrease from 11.1 percent in August to 10.2 in September.

The McAllen/Edinburg/Mission area saw a decrease from 11.7 percent in August to 10.5 percent in September.