The Gulf Coast Region is still in the recovery from the economic collapse of the mid-1980s. Population and employment continue to grow at a modest rate. Unemployment has seen a steady decline regionally, but conditions vary at the county level. Galveston and Liberty counties have seen slight rises in unemployment, as has Matagorda, which continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the region with approximately 15 percent of its labor force unemployed. The economy has diversified substantially over the past ten years.
Petroleum still plays a role, especially with the burgeoning petrochemical industry.
Computers, telecommunications, and information technology also have become major businesses in the region, and the Service sector continues to expand. Despite this apparent progress, the region still has several unmet needs. Water and sewer facilities are needed in both urban and rural areas, while many rural areas still rely on septic systems. Drainage is also a necessity in this primarily flat region. Transportation facilities need to be improved to meet urban congestion as it creeps into the surrounding areas.