In accordance to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Maverick county’s annual unemployment rate for for 2016 averaged at 11.20% unemployment in 2015 it was reported at 10.7%, in 2014 it was at 11% in 2013 it was reported at 12.4% in 2012 it was at 12.5% and in 2011 it was at 14%. In 2010 it was 15.2%, during 2009 it was reported at 13.3% , in 2008 it was 11.5% , in 2007 it was 10.3%.
To better understand the severity of the problem a review of reports of unemployment rates for all 254 Texas counties was conducted and it was found that during 2015 out of 254 Texas counties only four other counties in the state had a higher unemployment rate than Maverick County in
accordance to data from the County Information Program's on-line database http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/morecountyinfo.php?MORE=1042
In 2014 only four other counties in the state had a greater unemployment rate than Maverick County.
During 2013 their were only six counties in the state that had a higher unemployment rate than Maverick County.In 2012 only four counties had a higher unemployment rate than Maverick County.
During 2011 Maverick County recorded an unemployment rate of 14% and only six other Texas counties had a higher unemployment rate.
This challenging disparities contribute to social/health economical ills locally and across other border communities. As seen in the unemployment rates reports for every year reviewed, Texas/Mexico border counties made up the majority of the counties with the highest unemployment rates across the entire state.
For example during 2014 the five counties with the highest unemployment rate in the state of Texas were all considered border counties. Back then Starr County reported a 13.5% unemployment rate, followed by Zavala County with a 12.4 % unemployment rate, Willacy County with a 12.3% unemployment rate, and Presidio County with a 11.6 % unemployment rate and Maverick County reported a10.9% unemployment rate in 2014.
Of the top five counties only Willacy County is not considered a border county but it does border the Gulf of Mexico.
During 2013 again five of the top ten counties with the highest unemployment rates across the state were located in the Texas/Mexico Border region.
On an yearly basis there are four Texas/ Mexico border counties including Maverick, Starr, Zavala and Presidio counties that range among the highest unemployment rates in Texas.
What is going to be interesting to see is how the continued unsteadiness of the Mexican peso affects the Texas border counties as seen during the early 1980’s. Back then the devaluation of the Mexican currency hit border counties and the U.S hard, driving unemployment rates skyward including in Maverick County.