CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The national job report for the month of July was recently released and it shows the unemployment rate has jumped to 4.3 percent. It has a ripple effect, and some of that impact being felt here in the Coastal Bend.
Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend Communications Manager Xena Mercado said that when it comes to statistics, our area is not immune to national woes.
"The Coastal Bend typically sits a little bit higher as far as the unemployment rate goes," she said.
Due to many residents returning to school and more traditional schedules, Mercado said that can play a role in job decline.
"We'll see a slight decrease in leisure and hospitality as the summer ends, but we will see an increase in retail and manufacturing and construction jobs," she said.
George Zuniga has worked at Conn's for 10 years. He recently found out that the company is going bankrupt. He said that while he's looking for work, his experience doesn't have high prospects for the local work opportunities.
"Been applying places, not in the Coastal Bend, it's not really good paying jobs or something that I've been seeking out for," he said.
Mercado said there are options our there for those who are looking for work.
"There are over 13,000 jobs available," she said. "People who are looking for work can go to workintexas.com or visit us at one of our 13 career centers."
However, for Zuniga, he said that he's staying optimistic.
"I'm a jack of all trades, I've been through sales, through management," he said.