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Manager: unemployment low, Big Bend visitation pacing strongly, tourism remains Alpine's economic engine
Summary
City Manager Henry said May 2026 unemployment was about 2.8% and Big Bend visitation figures are pacing toward another strong year; he said tourism growth supports Alpine's hospitality and sales-tax base but also creates local labor shortages for some sectors.
City Manager Henry presented a regional economic snapshot that emphasized tourism as Alpine's principal economic driver and noted labor-market tightness in the county.
"The unemployment as of, May 2026 was 2.8," Henry said, and he reported Big Bend visitation counts that are pacing toward another near-record year, with monthly and year-to-date gains supporting hotels, restaurants and retail in Alpine.
Henry cautioned that a tight labor market makes filling utility and construction positions difficult and that the city should consider strategies to encourage local hiring and business development that match Alpine's workforce constraints.
