According to EMSI’s data, about 10,600 adults in Corpus Christi were unemployed
during 2015. Nearly one in five (16%) of them were new entrants to the workforce with
no previous work experience. A breakdown of the number of unemployed by industry
would help us better understand the extent of slack in our local labor market.
No Previous Work Experience
16%
Crop & Animal Production
0%
Mining & Oil & Gas Extraction
13%
Utilities
0%
Government
4%
Other Services
4%
Construction
13%
Accommodation & Food
Services
6%
Manufacturing
Arts, Entertainment, &
8%
Recreation
1%
Health Care & Social
Assistance
Wholesale Trade
7%
2%
Educational Services
Retail
Trade
1%
8%
Administrative & Support
5%
Transportation &
Information
Warehousing
Management of Companies &
Professional, Scientific &
1%
3%
Enterprises
Technical Services
0%
4%
Real Estate & Rental & Leasing
Finance & Insurance
2%
2%
Source: EMSI, 2015Q4.
. . . the impact
of the declining
oil industry was
evident.
The impact of unemployment in a particular industry on the entire local economy
depends on the size of that industry. In the past year, the impact of the declining oil
industry was evident. Some 1,400 people previously working in the mining industry,
including oil and gas extraction, were unemployed. Together they accounted for 13
percent of the total number of unemployed locally, more than double that in the
previous year. The concentration of unemployed individuals in the local oil and gas
industry was also relatively high in comparison with the broader South Texas region.
Given the ongoing construction boom in Corpus Christi, it seems counterintuitive
that the construction industry was responsible for a share of local unemployment
equal to that of the mining industry. Even though the unemployment rate among
construction workers was only one-third that of the mining industry, the size of the
construction sector by employment was second only to health care sector. A 6-percent
unemployment rate for the construction workforce translates into more than 1,350
unemployed people. In fact, the number of unemployed in the construction industry
reduced by more than 100 between 2014 and 2015. Other than unique characteristics
of its workforce, the temporary or cyclical nature of that industry was responsible for
its relatively high unemployment level.
Annual Review of South Texas Economy
CORPUS CHRISTI LABOR MARKET
Corpus Christi Unemployment by Industry
19