From March 2007 to March 2008, 80,100 jobs (3.2%) were added to the region’s economy. Professional and Business Services had an above average job growth rate (4.8%) in the Gulf Coast region and was the sector adding the most jobs over the year, up 17,900 from March 2007.

Monthly data does not reveal the most detailed information, but it is the timeliest. Nevertheless, sub-sectors can be reviewed in more detail by using employers’ quarterly payroll records to see where changes are occurring in the region. This data is also reported at the 13-county Gulf Coast region level. The most recent data from the Texas Workforce Commission is for the third quarter of 2007.

The greatest growth in Professional and Business Services was in Administrative and Waste Services (NAICS 56) and Professional and Technical Services (NAICS 54). The 179,189 jobs in Professional and Technical Services had an average weekly wage (AWW) of $1,498 in the third quarter. The AWW of Administrative and Waste Services, up 14,757 jobs, was $687. The AWW for all jobs, based on employers’ payroll records in the Gulf Coast Region for third quarter 2007, was $961. The highest sub-sector’s AWW in Professional and Business Services was found in Management of Companies and Enterprises (NAICS 5511), where 16,497 jobs had an AWW of $2,086 in the third quarter of 2007.

To review other detail data visit Texas Workforce Commission’s TRACER located at www.tracer2.com click on Data Link for Quarterly Employment and Wages.