Final answer:
From 2008 to 2015, the unemployment rate in Texas decreased, largely influenced by the growth in the Technology sector. While the U.S. unemployment rate has fluctuated over the years, it generally trended down after the 2008-2009 recession.
Step-by-step explanation:
Between the years 2008 and 2015, the unemployment rate in Texas actually fell. During this timeframe, the industry that contributed most significantly to the change in the unemployment rate was the Technology sector.
While the overall long-term trend of the U.S. unemployment rate has seen fluctuations, with periods of increase and decrease, it is essential to note that after the sharp rise during the recession period of 2008-2009, the rate generally trended downwards into the early 2010s.
Furthermore, looking at the broader picture and historical data, the manufacturing jobs peaked in the late 1970s and have declined since then. In contrast, the service sector has experienced a dramatic increase in jobs over the last few decades.