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Southeast Region
gross domestic product,
2020
About 2 percent of Texas’ GDP of $1.8 trillion.
Southeast Region Counties:
- Angelina
- Hardin
- Houston
- Jasper
- Jefferson
- Nacogdoches
- Newton
- Orange
- Polk
- Sabine
- San Augustine
- San Jacinto
- Shelby
- Trinity
- Tyler
The 15-county Southeast region covers about 12,800 square miles, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to Nacogdoches along the Louisiana border.
The region contains one metropolitan statistical area (MSA), the Beaumont-Port Arthur MSA. It comprises Hardin, Jefferson, Newton and Orange counties. In 2020, more than $311 billion of goods were exported from the region’s five official ports of entry.
Population Change
The region’s population changed little between 2010 and 2020. Polk County saw the greatest percentage rise in population at 10.4 percent.
REGION
0.2%
TEXAS
15.9%
U.S.
7.4%
Jobs & Wages
More than 280,000 people are employed in the region, with about 57 percent located in the Beaumont-Port Arthur MSA. Several of the most concentrated industries are related to manufacturing. These industries have a high location quotient or LQ (above 1.25), indicating the region may possess a competitive advantage in those industries.
Percent change in total jobs, 2010 to 2020
Employment in the Southeast Region fell by 4.2%, compared to growth in Texas at 17.1% and the U.S. at 7.8%.
Top Industries by Location Quotient, 2020
| Industry | Employment | Average Annual Wages | Location Quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 4,849 | $148,252 | 23.55 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 1,301 | $59,712 | 19.84 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 314 | $101,029 | 13.57 |
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 3,730 | $137,069 | 13.39 |
| Veneer, Plywood and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,634 | $52,687 | 10.89 |
Industries with Largest Total Jobs Growth, 2015 to 2020
| Industry | Average Annual Wages | Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 | Percent Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | $25,611 | 560 | 14.2% |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $50,888 | 444 | 37.9% |
| Couriers and Express Delivery Services | $39,890 | 424 | 70.8% |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $58,032 | 400 | 62.6% |
| Individual and Family Services | $26,568 | 353 | 9.8% |
THE Southeast REGION IS ONE OF THE COMPTROLLER’S 12 ECONOMIC REGIONS.
Sources: JobsEQ; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts