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The 15-county Southeast region covers about 12,000 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.
Southeast Region Counties:
- Angelina
- Hardin
- Houston
- Jasper
- Jefferson
- Nacogdoches
- Newton
- Orange
- Polk
- Sabine
- San Augustine
- San Jacinto
- Shelby
- Trinity
- Tyler
$46.5 Billion
Southeast region
gross domestic product,
2022
About 1.9 percent of Texas’ GDP of $2.4 trillion.
Population Change (2012 to 2022)
REGION
-0.1%
TEXAS
15.1%
U.S.
6.2%
The region’s population changed little between 2012 to 2022. Four counties in the region recorded population growth during this period. Polk County saw the greatest percentage rise in population at 17 percent.
Jobs & Wages
Nearly 261,000 people are employed in the region, with about 58 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, 2012 to 2022
The number of jobs in the Southeast Region decreased 1.4%, but increased in Texas 23.5% and in the U.S. 13.9%.
Top Industries by Location Quotient, 2022
View the LQ data
| Industry | Employment | Average Annual Wages | Location Quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 4,456 | $154,423 | 23.69 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 1,336 | $62,534 | 21.36 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 279 | $107,366 | 14.23 |
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 3,505 | $142,484 | 12.86 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,812 | $61,593 | 11.78 |
Industries with Largest Total Jobs Growth, 2012 to 2022
View the job growth data
| Industry | Employment Change, 2012 to 2022 | Percent Employment Change, 2012 to 2022 | Average Annual Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 644 | 106.2% | $83,042 |
| Individual and Family Services | 1,751 | 85.6% | $28,792 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 703 | 77.6% | $57,129 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 577 | 76.1% | $62,534 |
| Lessors of Real Estate | 519 | 54.9% | $51,640 |
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