According to an article in the Dallas Morning News, Texas employers experienced 39,500 job losses in April, as job losses in the state continues to rise.  The state’s unemployment rate is currently 6.7 percent, far below the nationwide unemployment rate of 8.9 percent.  However, with an unemployment rate of 6.6 percent, Dallas-Fort Worth has the highest unemployment rate among the state’s four largest cities.

The article said:

“While the Texas unemployment rate remains substantially lower than the national rate, it is of real concern that Texans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own are having a difficult time finding employment,” said Tom Pauken, chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission.

Many workers who have experienced a job loss are discovering the time needed to find work is increasing as the economy worsens.  The average worker will spend about 8 months looking for a new job after experiencing a job loss. This extended period of unemployment can jeopardize an unemployed worker’s financial well-being.  Many unemployed workers face difficulty paying their bills such as credit card debt, rent or mortgage.  Because of this, many jobless individuals are struggling to avoid foreclosure and may need bankruptcy to save their home.