COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Texas’ economic recovery is strengthening, according to the latest monthly economic review from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

After 16 months of job losses, the state had its third month of positive annual employment growth.

Texas’ employment growth rate from July 2009 to July 2010 was 1.3 percent compared with a rate close to zero percent for the nation.

The state’s private sector posted a positive annual employment growth rate of 1.2 percent compared with a zero percent rate for the United States.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas rose from 7.9 percent in July 2009 to 8.2 percent in July 2010, while the U.S. rate increased from 9.4 to 9.5 percent over the same period.

All Texas industries except the construction and information industries had more jobs in July 2010 than in July 2009.