Austin Jobs Grow by 3.3 Percent

Austin jobs grew by 3.3 percent in the 12 months ending March 2017, an addition of 32,700 net new jobs, according to data from the Texas Workforce Commission and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and compiled by the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

This growth makes Austin the tenth fastest growing major metropolitan area of the 50 largest metropolitan areas, in regards to jobs. Dallas was the first fastest growing, with a growth rate of 4.1 percent. No other Texas cities made the top ten, with Fort Worth coming in 16^th with growth of 2.9 percent, San Antonio coming in 21^st with growth of 2.4 percent, and Houston coming in 44^th with growth of one percent.

Austin Snapshot: March 2016 to March 2017

• Austin added 32,700 net new jobs in the 12 months ending March 2017.
• Manufacturing jobs in Austin exceeded 57,000, the first time since August 2014.
• The fastest growing industry was transportation, warehousing, and utilities. These jobs increased by 6.4 percent (1,100 jobs.)
• Education and healthcare added the most jobs, with 6,300 added for a growth rate of 5.5 percent.

Austin’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, the best among large metros in Texas. San Antonio had a 4.1 percent unemployment rate, Dallas a 4.2 percent rate, Fort Worth a 4.4 percent rate, and Houston a 5.7 percent rate. The statewide unemployment rate was five percent.

In the Austin metro area, Travis County had a 3.5 percent unemployment rate, Hays County had a 3.6 percent rate, Williamson County had a 3.8 percent rate, Bastrop County had a 4.3 percent rate, and Caldwell Country had a 4.7 percent rate.