Prospects for a prosperous 2019 in Beaumont-Port Arthur seemed brighter last week, as a Texan knowledgeable about the state economy suggested all signs point toward economic optimism.

Patrick Jankowski, senior vice president at Greater Houston Partnership, told the Regional Economic Development Initiative in Beaumont that there was no cause for alarm in the economy, despite some hint of doom in financial media.

Jankowski said for economies to turn south, there must be catalysts: interest rate hikes, stock market plunges, consumer and business credit lapses, stress on the banks. But data suggest none of those things were in the offing.

“Right now, business is expanding and people are getting hired, he said. Good news.

In fact, the state jobless rate hovered around 3.7 percent, a 43-year low in Texas. That’s what the Texas Workforce Commission said Friday.

Things are not quite as rosy in Jefferson County — the 5.9 percent jobless rate here in December was an increase from the previous month — and Beaumont-Port Arthur rated one spot from the bottom among 28 regions in the state. Thank goodness for McAllen-Edinburg-Mission.

About 10,200 members of the 172,200-member workforce in Beaumont-Port Arthur — that area actually includes Orange and Hardin counties, too — are jobless, though not for lack of opportunities. Those jobless within our defined workforce region may lack requisite work-related or even “soft” skills to be employed for jobs available here.

Back to Jankowski. The regional economist suggested the current economic expansion has lasted 114 months, long enough that onlookers may fear a downturn is surely due. Event the tech boom of the ‘90s only lasted 120 months, he said.

But Jankowski said the current expansion shows no sign of let up, and the industrial expansion is much younger than that. That’s worth consideration, especially in Southeast Texas, which has more than $50 billion of projects underway or on the way. Around here, that means expansion projects at Total, Valero and Motiva — in addition to the promise of projects at Golden Pass’ and Sempra’s LNG plants.

Here’s how important that is, he said: “When you invest $1.7 billion in a plant, you’re unlikely to pick it up and move it to Mexico.” Investments now may have impacts for the next half-century, he said.

That’s cause for at least some optimism … and maybe a lot.

Jankowski quoted former Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen, who said, “Expansions don’t die of old age.” No indeed.

Kay DeCuir, Nederland Economic Development Corp. executive director, said Janknowski’s optimism jibes with what she routinely sees in the local economy. She said last week she was preparing for several visits by prospective investors this week.

Is there a lesson there? Maybe: Don’t create you own economic pessimism. Don’t make gloom a self-fulfilling prophesy.