The Texas unemployment rate slipped to 4.6 percent in December for a fourth straight month of declines.
The Texas Workforce Commission on Friday reported that compares to a November jobless rate of 4.9 percent.
The December statewide jobless figure was the lowest since May 2008 and compares to 6.0 percent unemployment a year earlier.
Gov. Greg Abbott, who was inaugurated Tuesday, says the Texas history of strengthening job growth equates to more opportunity for all Texans.
The nationwide unemployment rate last month hit a six-year low at 5.6 percent.
Midland had the lowest unemployment rate in Texas at 2.1 percent, while Odessa's jobless rate for December was 2.6 percent.
Commission figures show the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area had the state's highest unemployment at 7.8 percent.
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