AUSTIN (AP) - The May unemployment rate for Texas is the same as April at 8 percent.

The Texas Workforce Commission on Friday announced the metro jobless rate held steady last month, compared to the May 2010 unemployment rate of 8.1 percent. The national jobless rate last month was 9.1 percent.

The Austin-based commission says total nonfarm employment in Texas was up by 8,800 jobs in May, for a total gain of 205,400 jobs from a year ago.

Chairman Tom Pauken says Texas continues to see continued private-sector job growth, including an additional 10,900 manufacturing jobs in the past year.

The Midland area had the lowest unemployment in the state last month, at 4.6 percent. The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area had the highest jobless rate in May, reaching 11.9 percent.

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