The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases monthly unemployment estimates that help track the condition of the workforce. The unemployment rate in the Rural Capital Area fell to 5.1% by the end of 2012 (December), much lower than the US rate of 7.6%. The unemployment rate has slowly declined in the Rural Capital Area from a peak of 7.7% (when 30,000 were unemployed) in January 2010. Currently 22,000 workers are unemployed in the Rural Capital Area.

Unemployment rates show some variation within the Rural Capital Area The counties with highest unemployment rates are Caldwell County (6.1%), Llano County (6.1%) and Bastrop County (5.4%). Some counties are experiencing low unemployment rates such as Lee County (4.2%) and Fayette County (4.3%).