COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – The latest figures from the Texas Workforce Commission show strengthening job growth in the state. December 2006 figures show Texas is creating jobs at a rate of more than 2.2 percent compared with 1.4 percent for the United States.

Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 5.2 percent in December 2005 to 4.5 percent in December 2006.

The construction sector ranked first in annual job growth percentage from December 2005 to December 2006, followed by natural resources and mining, professional and business services, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality.

The Laredo metropolitan area ranked first in annual employment growth rate among 26 Texas metropolitan areas, followed by Midland, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Sherman-Denison and Victoria.

Two major metro areas, Austin–Round Rock and Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, posted annual employment growth rates of 3.1 and 3.0 percent, respectively.

The Midland metro area had the lowest unemployment rate in October 2006 followed by College Station–Bryan, Amarillo, Lubbock and Austin–Round Rock.