Unemployment rate for Freestone county dropped in May, after a slight rise in April, figures from Texas Workforce Commission show.

The May unemployment rate for the county is 6.7 percent, the same as in March and down from 6.8 percent in April.

Out of a labor force of 10,169, the TWC data show that 678 workers were jobless.

Freestone county ties with Limestone county for the lowest unemployment rate in the area.

In Limestone county, 788 persons are without jobs from a total labor force of 11,729. The April rate also was the same as in Freestone county, 6.8 percent.

The Texas unemployment rate for May remained at 8.3 percent, trending well below the U.S. rate of 9.7 percent for the same month.

Statewide, 975,300 workers are without jobs from a total labor force of 11.2 million.

“During the month of May, employers in most industries added jobs,” TWC chairman Tom Pauken says. “In addition, it is encouraging to see that Texas’ annual job growth rate is back in positive territory.”

Professional and business services expanded by 10,200 jobs in May, marking the industry’s fifth monthly employment gain. Leisure and hospitality employment grew by 9,600 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities added 8,200 jobs.

Jobs were added across nine major industries in May.

Highest unemployment rate in the area, 9.2 percent, is posted in Anderson county where 1,961 workers are jobless from a labor force of 21,245. The unemployment rate in April was 9.4 percent.

Navarro county unemployment remained steady at 9.0 percent. Out of a total labor force of 21,422, there were 1,931 workers without jobs.

Leon county unemployment in May was 7.3 percent, down from 7.6 percent a month earlier. There are 633 Leon county workers unemployed out of a total labor force of 8,616.

The Amarillo and Midland Metropolitan Statistical Areas tied for the lowest unemployment rate in Texas at 5.4 percent.

An 11.2 percent rate was posted for McAllen- Edinburg-Mission for May.