DENTON, Texas (UNT) -- The Texas Workforce Commission will release its monthly jobs report today (Friday, May 20). University of North Texas economist Michael Carroll, director for the Economics Research Group at UNT, is available to give context to the April data, which, when combined with January, February and March reports, provide economic insight for the state's labor market in the first quarter of 2016.

Carroll can be reached by phone today at 419-308-9580 (cell). He can discuss:

• What the report says about the economy and the potential for job growth in Texas, as well as the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
• Whether today's report signals economic progress or shows signs of concern for the first quarter of 2016.
• How sectors like oil and gas – which lost jobs in the March report – and industries like trade, transportation and utilities – which added jobs – impact the economy.