At the Workforce Solutions east end location, ABC13 talked to job seekers who know too well what the market is like.
"I'm trying to have my faith in there, but it is coming to what is the next step," Laura Lopez said. "It just keeps me worried about next month's rent, bills."
The latest state jobs report might explain why. Workforce Solutions officials said normally in August, the Houston area adds more than 7,000 jobs. This time, it was 100.
"The changes are not so significant that we are really concerned," Workforce Solutions innovation and strategy manager Carl Salazar explained. "We're still adding jobs. We're not adding as many jobs as we usually do. It's more of a plateau than a dip."
Experts said with a slower job pace, if you're looking for work you may have to do more to stand out.
"Meaning that folks are going to be a much more competitive environment," Workforce Solutions executive director Juliet Stipeche said. "That means now's your time, make sure you've got the skills and certifications that folks are working and looking for."
One place to learn about in-demand jobs, and skills to land them is Workforce Solutions. The agency relies on data from jobs reports to help steer seekers to those positions.
On Friday, the national unemployment report was scheduled to come out. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics didn't release one because of the federal government shutdown.
ABC13 reached out to the Texas Workforce Commission about the upcoming state jobs report. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said it's scheduled to be released on Oct. 21.
State officials told ABC13 they're looking to see if there will be impacts from the shutdown. It's a report local economic leaders told ABC13 they rely on.
"It helps us decide how we're going to invest funds for our scholarship and training," Stipeche explained. "When folks come into our Workforce Solutions offices, where do we want them to explore opportunities?"
Experts said it's not just the shutdown that could impact us locally, but there's another factor that could explain the slowdown.
"I think we're starting to see an impact from some of the tariffs," Salazar said. "We know raw materials, and importing things, metals and different things, is more expensive than it was in the past."
A job market seekers feel is tightening, which is why experts say stay prepared, connected, and consider learning new skills.
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