REGIONAL NEWS
2021 Houston job growth breaks 1981 record
ONTHEREBOUND The Houston area’s job growth has improved since the onset of the pandemic, according to economists. 151,800 new Houston-area jobs in 2021, a new record 126,981 Previous record for new jobs in 1981 87% of the area’s employment has returned to pre-pandemic levels SOURCE: PATRICK JANKOWSKI GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER will a ect supply chains, which will erode consumer con dence,” he said. “There will be a recession in Europe that will slow growth here, but it will not result in a recession here.”
BY JISHNU NAIR
invasion into Ukraine in terms of potentially a ecting economic growth in the Houston area. According to WISERTrade, which specializes in international trade data, Russia made up 3.1% of Houston imports—most of which Jankowski said came from crude oil coming in for re nement. Jankowski highlighted several regional businesses pulling operations out of Russia, including Exxon- Mobil. He estimated $35 billion in losses. He also noted bipartisan support for President Joe Biden’s move to ban Russian oil imports, even with the resulting increase in prices. He said he does not see “a recession in the cards” for the area but did see the potential for growth to slow. “Prices will go up; the [Federal Reserve] is going to try to control in ation; it’s not going to work. Con ict
Last year was the best year on record for Houston job growth, according to Patrick Jankowski, the Greater Houston Partnership’s senior vice president of research. The Houston area reported 151,800 new jobs in 2021, beating out the previous all-time growth record of 126,981 in 1981 by more than 25,000 jobs. At a March 9 economic webinar presented by the GHP, Jankowski estimated the region would pass the 3.1 million total jobs mark in 2022, which would still be short of pre-pandemic levels of over 3.2 million. Out of the country’s 20 largest metropolitan areas, Houston ranks 10th in terms of jobs recouped, with 87% of the area’s jobs returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, Jankowski discussed Russia’s
Foster care entities respond to expert panel recommendations
Single-family home prices reach newhighs
Single-family home sales continued to rise in the Houston region in February. RISING HOME SALES Feb. 2021 Feb. 2022
BY GEORGE WIEBE
BY WESLEY GARDNER
Single-family home sales contin- ued to rise in the Houston area in February, increasing 22.9% year over year, according to a March 9 market report from the Houston Association of Realtors. A total of 7,372 units were sold in February, according to HAR, compared to 5,997 in February 2021. The median price of a single-family home sale rose to $328,000 in February, a 19.3% increase over last year. HAR o cials also cited 20,620 listings in February, a 10.7% drop from the 23,082 listings in February 2021. Single-family home inventory—an estimate of howmany months it could take to deplete current listings—was at 1.3 months, matching an all-time
CWOP number. Over the last two years, the state has increasingly relied on unlicensed placements—often motels or o ce buildings—overseen by caseworkers. The expert panel issued a Jan. 10 report describing the foster care system as “woefully inadequate.” The panel recommended the imple- mentation of 23 short- and long-term solutions to employ. Panelists recommended the state strengthen infrastructure; create positions to help the DFPS and HHSC coordinate their e orts; invest in ser- vices to keep children with relatives; enhance access to resources; create mobile crisis centers; and develop a children’s mental health care system.
Single-family units sold
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Department of Family and Protective Services responded in mid-February to 23 recommendations provided by a panel aimed at addressing de cien- cies in Texas’ foster care system. DFPS o cials said individuals in the state’s foster care system receive a “child without placement” designation, or CWOP, when the state cannot nd a suitable and safe placement for that child, requiring the DFPS to provide temporary emergency care until a placement can be secured. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott approved the creation of the panel in October to analyze the rising TUITION INCREASES The Lone Star College System board of trustees approved a tuition increase for the 2022-23 school year. 6.6% $48
+22.9%
5,997
7,372
0
1K 2K
5K 6K 7K 8K 3K 4K
Active listings
23,082
20,620
-10.7%
0 5K 10K 15K 20K 25K
SOURCE: HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
historic low that was also seen fromMarch through May of 2021, according to HAR.
Lone Star College System increases tuition rates amid budget talks
BY ANDREW CHRISTMAN
LSCS Chief Financial O cer Jennifer Mott said the system will need to prepare for at least a 6.6% increase in expenditures due to in ation. Mott said there are three main factors for revenue at LSCS: local taxes, tuition and fees, and state allocations. Information from Mott’s presentation to the board stated the average tuition increase would be around $48 per semester for a student attending LSCS.
Mott said the total increased new revenue for LSCS would be around $16.5 million, or a 4.1% increase compared to scal year 2021-22. O - cials said there were previous plans to increase tuition, but those were put on hold due to the pandemic. Enrollment data from a March 8 meeting shows the student population decreased by 8.1% from fall 2019 to fall 2021, though it remains the largest community college in the state.
Prior to discussions for the scal year 2022-23 budget, the Lone Star College System board of trustees heard a presentation regarding rais- ing tuition rates for students. The tuition rates were approved during the March 8 meeting and will take e ect for the fall semester later this year. The budget will be presented to the board for in August. During a March 3 budget retreat,
average tuition increase per semester
$6 12 tuition increase was approved in March
is the range of extra cost per credit hour a student could pay
SOURCE: LONE STAR COLLEGE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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KATY EDITION • MARCH 2022
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