New numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that Fort Bend County had the third highest increase in jobs during the first quarter of this year compared to last year among the nation’s largest 334 counties.
Arlington County, Va., experienced the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., with a gain of 2.6 percent.
Elkhart County, Ind., located about 100 miles east of Chicago, posted the largest percentage decline, with a loss of 23.4 percent over the year, compared with a national job decrease of 4.2 percent. Nearly 80 percent of the employment decline in Elkhart occurred in manufacturing, which lost 22,100 jobs over the year.
The statistics for Fort Bend County show 1,500 jobs were created, an increase of 1.2 percent.
“That shows you Houston suburbs are still strong…and Fort Bend County is among the leaders,” said Jeff Wiley, president of the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council. “I think we have predicted for a long time that we would be the last end of the recession. I think that’s certainly showing to be true here. We were certainly affected, but we were one of the last in, primarily because of the strong energy pricing of last year’s markets that carries into this market.”
Wiley says a strong belief in public/private partnerships has helped job growth in the county, as well as “aggressive outreach” and tax incentives provided by local cities. He noted the lack of property tax in the city of Stafford as well as the tax rate in Sugar Land.
“Our objective has been for people to look at us as a better part of the Houston market,” said Wiley. “We have a growing business district and out own presence in the Houston region that gives everyone everything they want in terms of a live, work, play environment, which is our ultimate objective.”
Wiley named Sugar Land, Katy, Cinco Ranch and “in the future” Sienna Plantation as strong draws to the region.
Job creation in the engineering field related to the energy sector played a role in the increase, but Wiley says some of those jobs will be under pressure later this year as a result of the worldwide economy.
Recently Fluor Corporation in Sugar Land, which has about 3,500 employees, announced the planned layoff of as many as 500 after Fluor’s role in a large overseas energy and chemical project was narrowed.
“Even among the layoffs announced by Fluor, over the last two or three years we have had a significant increase of employees that work at Fluor,” said Wiley. “While we have had the layoffs announced, that’s a blip on otherwise improving employment records for some of our largest employers in the county.”
Wiley says they are keeping a “strong eye” on economic indicators such as natural gas prices, but that the county doesn’t depend on the energy sector alone.
“That’s been proven by the attraction of Minute Maid,” said Wiley, referencing the companies recent move to Sugar Land. “We have an eclectic attraction for opportunities of employers across different business sectors.”
7. November 2009 at 7:32 am
interesting rant from calvin in the link on #236
5. November 2009 at 3:36 pm
Wow 240 posts.
5. November 2009 at 10:05 am
amazing how “Fort Bend County Job Growth Ranks Third Among Nation’s Largest Counties” got the liberals panties in a wad.
5. November 2009 at 9:59 am
tabor who are you gonna run down today besides me?
5. November 2009 at 9:26 am
I would remind everyone not to feed this troll today but it appears to be too late.
5. November 2009 at 8:30 am
Mega these posters are liberal dems who prefer the term progressives or reformers. The reason they detest any good news it defeats their purpose. They need bad news especially economic so they can save the voters by running “reform” candidates. IE the liberal env lawyer Morrison.
Most will deny being liberals and will even go so far as to lie and say they’re a conservative.
They have an agenda and any good news must be vilified so they can save.
5. November 2009 at 5:24 am
rantings from the progressive who claims to be a conservative
http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html
5. November 2009 at 5:20 am
What does santhony/calvin do when exposed he attacks the messenger.
calvin you accuse me of being a vendor, so what do I sell, and to whom? Quit making false accusations and present facts, if you can
So calvin how does a PHD Edu spell decent? Most spell ir dissent.
Bring on the attacks liberal/responsible developement/ FBISD watchdog/ MissouriCity Chatter/louisianaboy/troll you’ve been outted again. troll
4. November 2009 at 9:15 pm
You all don’t need to worry too much, “conman” charlie is a vendor feeding insider fake conservative.
As a matter of fact, he should learn how to spell “consrvatives” before claiming to be one. He’s an edc boy all the way and is only concerned about stealing our tax dollars for his buddies projects. Party for him is completely irrelevant.
His idea of being positive is telling people to go “kneecap old ladies”. That’s how he gets his kicks.
Just ignore such fakes. Most of us do.
4. November 2009 at 5:22 pm
Mega these posters are liberal dems who prefer the term progressives or reformers. The reason they detest any good news it defeats their purpose. They need bad news especially economic so they can save the voters by running “reform” candidates. IE the liberal env lawyer Morrison.
Most will deny being liberals and will even go so far as to lie and say they’re consrvatives.
They have an agenda and any good news must be vilified so they can save.
Ft Bend Cty is high on their list.
4. November 2009 at 5:04 pm
*crickets*
4. November 2009 at 5:01 pm
Tell you what, you two keyboard commandos email Wiley with your claims and CnP his reply. Man up instead of the usual internet whining.
4. November 2009 at 5:01 pm
Ok, I will say it now without the maybe.
4. November 2009 at 5:00 pm
No, I’m very clear on what you are trying to do.
4. November 2009 at 5:00 pm
Good one cult.
4. November 2009 at 5:00 pm
Oh man you’re lost.
4. November 2009 at 4:58 pm
# MEGABITE says:
November 4th, 2009 at 4:49 pm (#)
Yeah, taber, farmers probably got laid off from their own farms. uh-huh. The cows had to let them go. Oh brother.
Then what is your point about the increase by over 3% to 8.5% unemployment then. Are you now admitting they report on our area is correct? Then you should be also chastising Wiley for not including that in this jobs report.
4. November 2009 at 4:56 pm
I shouldn’t have said may be.
4. November 2009 at 4:53 pm
Be sure to let us know how that phone call or meeting with Wiley goes.
4. November 2009 at 4:53 pm
I could have told you that before now.
4. November 2009 at 4:52 pm
I may be wasting my time with you.
4. November 2009 at 4:51 pm
Even though you have no idea what you are yammering on about…
4. November 2009 at 4:51 pm
Whatever you say, c-o-o. You’ve obviously convinced yourself you’re right.
4. November 2009 at 4:50 pm
But that would be name calling I guess.
4. November 2009 at 4:50 pm
yeah, I agree, you should be pretty full by now with all the Attention you’ve been getting today.
4. November 2009 at 4:50 pm
Well some refuse to listen and argue in dishonest manner. Facts and facts. I accept yours and the unemployment report and fully understand what they are saying. It is you attempting to argue falsely.
4. November 2009 at 4:49 pm
Yeah, taber, farmers probably got laid off from their own farms. uh-huh. The cows had to let them go. Oh brother.
4. November 2009 at 4:48 pm
Maybe I should just post DON’T FEED THE TROLL again?
4. November 2009 at 4:48 pm
Like you have been doing all day long, c-o-o? Hypocrite alert! BEEP BEEP
4. November 2009 at 4:48 pm
I’ve noticed.
4. November 2009 at 4:47 pm
Looks like you are repeating yourself now megabite.
4. November 2009 at 4:47 pm
No, facts are not, just how they are used or misused. And Wiley only gave half of a jobs report. You can keep gaming if you like.
Notice sunshine I’m not using any names.
4. November 2009 at 4:45 pm
Sorry mega, the TWC report has us at 8.5% unemployment. And according to them the rural areas are often hit harder. So are you talking about the farm areas or the most densely populated region of the county? Another game? They gave the averages for our area for Sept. Now you are just being deliberately deceitful.
4. November 2009 at 4:43 pm
Obviously the word ‘fact’ is subjective.
4. November 2009 at 4:42 pm
You should march right down to his office and demand he stop lying and that he rehire those people, c-o-o!! *rolling eyes*
4. November 2009 at 4:42 pm
You can keep trying to reframe it, but those are the facts. Denying them accomplishes nothing.
4. November 2009 at 4:41 pm
Someone PLEASE give taber a map of Texas counties! STAT!
4. November 2009 at 4:41 pm
Don’t kid yourself, these boys are reading every post and so are a great many others including those 500 or more depending on whether or not you accept these reported numbers or not.
4. November 2009 at 4:41 pm
You’ve already posted that a few times, do you think repeatedly posting non matching stats is helping? WOW
4. November 2009 at 4:40 pm
That is a quote from the article. I guess it’s another fact they want to deny.
These are the facts that were left out of the article or down played
‘A report prepared for the U.S. Conference of Mayors warns the Houston area could lose close to 44,000 thousand jobs this year. It also forecasts that the city could experience an area-wide unemployment rate of 6.6 percent, before the end of 2009.’
and this
‘The unemployment rate for the area was 8.4 percent, unchanged from July but up from 5.2 percent in August 2008.’
and these
‘According to the Texas Workforce Commission (it reports the Sugar Land area average) as 5.1 in Sept. 2008 and as 8.5% as of the last reporting cycle of Sept. 2009.’
4. November 2009 at 4:39 pm
You should phone him and give him a piece of your mind! Yeah, like that’ll ever happen. It’s much easier to whine on messageboards.
4. November 2009 at 4:38 pm
Mega the Fluor lay offs were due to a energy project overseas being cancelled, somehow the trolls blame that on Ft Bend Cty.