economy

Statewide Report 2024 Regional Report

Statewide Snapshot

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About the 2024 Regional Reports

The 2024 regional reports utilize sources from JobsEQ, REMI, Texas A&M Real Estate Center, Texas Department of Transportation, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Regions

This analysis offers an overview of the Texas economy and is a resource for comparative purposes. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has organized the 261,000 square miles and 254 counties of Texas into 12 economic regions. Each region has at least one Census Bureau-defined metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which is an area with relatively high population density and close economic integration (Exhibit 1).

Note: The table below should be a Texas map highlighting the Texas regions and MSAs.

Texas Comptroller Economic Regions and Metropolitan Statistical Areas

Region	Region Number	Region Metropolitan Statistical Area(s)
High Plains	1	Amarillo Lubbock
Northwest	2	Abilene Wichita Falls
Metroplex	3	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Sherman-Denison
Upper East	4	Longview Texarkana, TX-AR Tyler
Southeast	5	Beaumont-Port Arthur
Gulf Coast	6	Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands
Central Texas	7	College Station-Bryan Killeen-Temple Waco
Capital	8	Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Alamo	9	San Antonio-New Braunfels Victoria
South Texas	10	Brownsville-Harlingen Corpus Christi Laredo McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
West Texas	11	Midland Odessa San Angelo
Upper Rio Grande	12	El Paso

Sources: U.S. Office of Management and Budget and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

This report examines statewide economic trends including population, personal income, jobs and wages, and education, as well as economic conditions unique to the state and its regions.

Population

Core based statistical areas (CBSAs), classified by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget , describe the socioeconomic relationships between communities and across urban and rural territories. CBSAs consist of one or more counties that include a core urban area (UA) with a population of at least 10,000 and adjacent counties with a high degree of economic and social integration, as measured by commuting ties to that core. There are two types of CBSAs:

• Metropolitan Statistical Areas (metro areas): associated with at least one UA with a population of at least 50,000.
• Micropolitan Statistical Areas (micro areas): associated with at least one UA with a population of at least 10,000.

Texas had an estimated total population exceeding 30 million in 2022. More than two-thirds of Texans live in the metropolitan areas of Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (26.5 percent), Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (24.5 percent), San Antonio-New Braunfels (8.8 percent) and Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos (8.1 percent). More than 90 percent of Texas residents live in metropolitan counties, with an additional 5.4 percent residing in micropolitan counties.

The Texas population grew by 3.9 million between 2012 and 2022, easily the largest total gain among the 50 states during this period and surpassing second-place Florida by 1 million. Texas’ 15.1 percent growth was more than double the U.S. growth of 6.2 percent. Population growth in Texas’ four largest metropolitan areas exceeded 18 percent, including a 32 percent increase in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. Smaller Texas metropolitan areas also saw strong growth, including College Station-Bryan, Sherman-Denison, Killeen-Temple and Midland — each of which saw gains exceeding 16 percent. In total, population rose by 16.9 percent in metropolitan counties, 2.1 percent in micropolitan counties and 0.1 percent in counties not classified as either (Exhibit 2).

Population by Metropolitan Statistical Area, Texas, 2012 vs. 2022 Ranked by Percent Change

Texas MSA	Comptroller Economic Region	2012 Population	2022 Population	Total Change	Percent Change
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos	Capital	1,834,861	2,421,115	586,254	32.0%
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington	Metroplex	6,644,519	7,943,685	1,299,166	19.6%
San Antonio-New Braunfels	Alamo	2,237,076	2,655,342	418,266	18.7%
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands	Gulf Coast	6,210,075	7,368,466	1,158,391	18.7%
College Station-Bryan	Central Texas	234,188	277,824	43,636	18.6%
Sherman-Denison	Metroplex	121,866	143,131	21,265	17.4%
Killeen-Temple	Central Texas	423,703	496,228	72,525	17.1%
Midland	West Texas	152,341	177,216	24,875	16.3%
Tyler	Upper East	214,824	241,922	27,098	12.6%
Odessa	West Texas	144,472	160,869	16,397	11.3%
Waco	Central Texas	275,068	302,582	27,514	10.0%
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission	South Texas	807,930	888,367	80,437	10.0%
Lubbock	High Plains	330,383	358,232	27,849	8.4%
Abilene	Northwest	167,483	179,308	11,825	7.1%
Amarillo	High Plains	257,842	271,171	13,329	5.2%
San Angelo	West Texas	114,906	120,422	5,516	4.8%
El Paso	Upper Rio Grande	835,471	872,195	36,724	4.4%
Eagle Pass	South Texas	55,723	57,843	2,120	3.8%
Longview	Upper East	283,083	291,219	8,136	2.9%
Laredo	South Texas	260,487	267,780	7,293	2.8%
Brownsville-Harlingen	South Texas	415,729	425,208	9,479	2.3%
Corpus Christi	South Texas	436,693	446,572	9,879	2.3%
Victoria	Alamo	96,453	98,196	1,743	1.8%
Beaumont-Port Arthur	Southeast	389,654	393,575	3,921	1.0%
Texarkana	Upper East	93,068	92,035	-1,033	-1.1%
Wichita Falls	Northwest	151,082	149,299	-1,783	-1.2%
Texas	N/A	26,084,120	30,029,572	3,945,452	15.1%
Metropolitan Counties - Total	N/A	23,188,980	27,099,802	3,910,822	16.9%
Micropolitan Counties - Total	N/A	1,580,601	1,614,396	33,795	2.1%
Non-CBSA Counties - Total	N/A	1,314,539	1,315,374	835	0.1%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population and Housing Unit Estimates Program; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts analysis

The Texas population rose by nearly 471,000 in 2022 from the previous year, the most of any state. Its 1.6 percent growth ranked fourth highest among all states. Notably, Texas’ gains in 2022 were bolstered by strong growth in net domestic and international migration, which saw upticks compared with previous years. Population gains by natural increase (births minus deaths) rose in 2022 compared with 2021, yet they remained below pre-pandemic levels (Exhibit 3).

Exhibit 3 data

Components of Annual Population Change from Previous Year, Texas, 2012-2022 

Year	Natural Increase	Net Domestic Migration	Net International Migration
2013	205,785	107,618	79,571
2014	213,575	159,828	106,776
2015	214,435	172,183	117,265
2016	213,780	120,979	110,382
2017	195,226	84,806	96,215
2018	179,170	84,638	69,138
2019	173,851	121,411	66,791
2020	157,330	162,299	54,650
2021	92,840	192,821	43,472
2022	118,159	230,961	118,614

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population and Housing Unit Estimates Program; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts analysis

Population by Race and Ethnicity

Texas has experienced strong population gains among its racial groups and ethnicities. Hispanics – considered an ethnicity that can be of any race – saw its population increase by 2.1 million between 2012 and 2022, comprising more than half of the state’s population growth. Asians led all racial groups in percentage population gains at 55 percent, followed by a 47 increase among those of two or more races and other races. Texas’ Black population rose by nearly 24 percent, above the state average. The state’s white population saw a modest 3 percent gain (Exhibit 4).

Total Population Change by Race/Ethnicity, Texas, 2012-2022

Year	Hispanic or Latino	White	Black	Asian	Two or More Races and Other Races	Total Population
2012	9,967,548	11,590,061	3,027,689	1,066,401	432,421	26,084,120
2022	12,068,549	11,939,611	3,741,618	1,654,482	625,312	30,029,572
Total Change	2,101,001	349,550	713,929	588,081	192,891	3,945,452
Percent Change	21.1%	3.0%	23.6%	55.1%	44.6%	15.1%

Note: “Other races” include American Indian and Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population and Housing Unit Estimates Program; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts analysis

The share of the state’s Hispanics increased from 38.2 percent of the total population in 2012 to 40.2 percent in 2022. Conversely, the state’s white population decreased from 44.4 percent to 39.8 percent. All other racial groups comprised nearly 20.1 percent of the state population in 2022, up from 17.4 percent in 2012 (Exhibit 5).

Exhibit 5 data

Share of Population by Race/Ethnicity, Texas, 2012 and 2022

Race/Ethnicity	2012	2022
White	44.4%	39.8%
Black	11.6%	12.5%
Asian	4.1%	5.5%
Two or More Races and Other Races	1.7%	2.1%
Hispanic or Latino	38.2%	40.2%

Note: “Other races” include American Indian and Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population and Housing Unit Estimates Program; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts analysis

Population by Age Group

Like national trends, Texas saw its largest population gains among those aged 65 or older, reflecting the large Baby Boomer cohort (born between 1946 and 1964). In Texas, the population aged 65 or older increased by 42 percent between 2012 and 2022, compared with a 34 percent rise in the U.S. The population aged 0 to 4 declined both in Texas and the U.S., though to a smaller degree in Texas. Texas’ population gains among all age groups greatly exceeded the U.S. average (Exhibit 6).

Exhibit 6 data

Population Changes by Age Group, 2012-2022, Texas vs. United States

Age Group Region	Texas	United States
65 or older	41.9%	34.0%
50 to 64	13.0%	2.9%
35 to 49	15.2%	1.8%
20 to 34	14.4%	5.1%
5 to 19	10.0%	0.0%
0 to 4	-1.8%	-7.2%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population and Housing Unit Estimates Program; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts analysis

Education

Educational Attainment Levels

The share of Texas’ population with a bachelor’s degree or higher was 32.3 percent in 2022. More women than men in the state held at least a bachelor’s degree — 33 percent and 31.5 percent, respectively (Exhibit 7).

Postsecondary educational attainment levels have improved since 2012, when 26.9 percent of men and 25.7 percent of women held at least a bachelor’s degree. Likewise, the share of the state population with at least a high school diploma rose from 80.8 percent in 2012 to 85.2 percent in 2022.

Exhibit 7 data

Educational Attainment by Gender, Texas, 2022

Educational Attainment	Male	Female	Total
Less than high school graduate	15.5%	14.1%	14.8%
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	25.3%	23.6%	24.5%
Some college, no degree	20.6%	21.2%	20.9%
Associate degree	7.1%	8.1%	7.6%
Bachelor's degree	20.1%	21.3%	20.7%
Graduate or professional degree	11.4%	11.7%	11.5%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2017-2021; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts analysis

Occupational Earnings by Educational Attainment Requirements

A strong educational foundation provides a cornerstone for growth and competitiveness in the global economy, which leads to opportunities for workplace advancement and business expansion.

Data for 2023 indicate that occupations in Texas requiring at least an associate degree or certificate paid an average of about $9,200 more annually than jobs requiring no postsecondary education. Occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree paid an average of about $44,700 more annually than those requiring an associate degree or certificate, and occupations requiring a post-graduate degree paid an average of $33,400 more annually than those requiring a bachelor’s degree (Exhibit 8).

Employment Levels and Average Annual Wages of Occupations by Typical Entry-Level Education Requirements, Texas, 2023

Typical Entry-Level Educational Requirement	Total Employment	Share of Total Regional Employment	Average Annual Wages
No postsecondary award	9,302,410	63.3%	$42,943
Associate degree or certificate	1,214,341	8.3%	$52,158
Bachelor's degree	3,636,922	24.7%	$96,888
Post-graduate degree	550,894	3.7%	$130,288
Total	14,704,566	N/A	$59,900

Note: Data as of 2023 Q2.
Sources: JobsEQ; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts analysis

State Institutions of Higher Education

Many of Texas’ high school graduates enroll in postsecondary education, which offers greater job prospects and the possibility of higher wages. Total enrollment in Texas’ institutions of higher education was about 1.53 million students in fall 2023, down by 28,300 students, or 1.8 percent, from pre-pandemic levels in fall 2019, due to declines in community college enrollment. Enrollment in state universities, however, rose by 3 percent, and Texas State Technical Colleges saw a sharp 52 percent increase in enrollment during this period (Exhibit 9).

Each of the Comptroller’s economic regions offers a variety of higher education options. See individual regional reports for more information on higher education institutions and enrollment within each region.

Enrollment Levels in Institutions of Higher Education, Texas, Fall 2019 and Fall 2023

Institution Type	Fall 2019	Fall 2023	Total Change	Percent Change
Public Two- and Four-Year Institutions
Universities	657,985	677,462	19,477	3.0%
Community and State Colleges	735,416	676,141	-59,275	-8.1%
Texas State Technical Colleges	11,694	17,768	6,074	51.9%
Independent Two- and Four-Year Institutions
Senior Colleges and Universities	125,407	128,693	3,286	2.6%
Junior Colleges	511	544	33	6.5%
Medical, Dental and Health-Related Institutions
Public Institutions	26,169	27,800	1,631	6.2%
Independent Institutions	3,566	4,062	496	13.9%
Total Enrollment	1,560,748	1,532,470	-28,278	-1.8%

*Fall 2023 enrollment numbers are preliminary and not certified.
Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Health Care Access

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the share of Texans without health insurance — 20.3 percent in 2021 — was almost twice the national average of 10.2 percent. In 2021, the share of uninsured Texans ranged from a low of 15.5 percent in the Capital region to a high of 28.3 percent in the South Texas region (Exhibit 10). (For additional information, see Uninsured Texans, Fiscal Notes, October 2020.)

Uninsured by Comptroller Region (Under Age 65), Texas, 2021
Ranked by Percent

Region	Number Uninsured	Percent Uninsured
South Texas Region	579,909	28.3%
Upper Rio Grande	178,677	23.7%
West Texas Region	119,824	22.3%
Gulf Coast Region	1,345,481	21.2%
Southeast Region	126,474	21.1%
High Plains Region	148,979	20.9%
Upper East Region	188,850	20.9%
Northwest Region	84,631	19.8%
Metroplex Region	1,334,565	18.9%
Alamo Region	455,363	18.7%
Central Texas Region	188,066	18.1%
Capital Region	331,578	15.5%
Total	5,082,397	20.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates

State Economy and Employment

Gross Domestic Product

In 2022, Texas contributed $2.4 trillion, or 9.3 percent, to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) of $25.7 trillion. Notably, Texas accounted for more than half of national GDP in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry, totaling $235.6 billion in 2022 (Exhibit 11).

Gross Domestic Product by Industry in Texas, 2022 (Ranked by Texas Industries with Greatest Share of U.S. Industry GDP)

Industry	Texas (billions)	Texas Industry GDP as Share of Total State GDP	United States (billions)	Texas Industry GDP as Share of U.S. Industry GDP
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction	$235.6	9.8%	$457.4	51.5%
Nondurable goods manufacturing	$154.9	6.4%	$1,242.8	12.5%
Wholesale trade	$184.9	7.7%	$1,546.8	12.0%
Transportation and warehousing	$93.6	3.9%	$920.5	10.2%
Construction	$110.2	4.6%	$1,090.1	10.1%
Total GDP - All Industries	$2,402.1	N/A	$25,744.1	9.3%

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Between 2017 and 2022, Texas’ inflation-adjusted GDP rose by 15.4 percent, exceeding the 11.3 percent growth in the U.S. Among the state’s most populous metropolitan areas, Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown led growth at 37.2 percent, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington at 22.5 percent (Exhibit 12).

Exhibit 12 data

Exhibit 12 Changes in Real Gross Domestic Product in the U.S., Texas and Select Texas Largest Metro Areas, 2017-2022

Area	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown	0.0%	5.8%	12.5%	15.6%	27.7%	37.2%
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington	0.0%	4.6%	8.7%	7.3%	15.8%	22.5%
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land	0.0%	4.4%	2.9%	1.3%	6.4%	9.1%
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission	0.0%	2.2%	5.2%	3.4%	8.6%	10.1%
San Antonio-New Braunfels	0.0%	4.7%	8.1%	6.9%	12.7%	18.0%
Texas	0.0%	4.8%	8.1%	6.3%	12.4%	15.4%
United States	0.0%	3.0%	5.5%	3.2%	9.2%	11.3%

Note: Real GDP is adjusted for inflation.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts analysis

Median Household Income

In 2022, Texans had a median household income of $72,284, up from $67,321 the previous year. Household income in Texas was slightly below the U.S. median household income of $74,755 in 2022. Between 2011 and 2022, median household income increased by 43 percent in Texas and 42 percent in the U.S. (Exhibit 13).

Exhibit 13 data

Median Household Income, 2011-2022, Texas and United States

Year	Texas	United States
2011	$50,920	$52,762
2012	$51,563	$53,046
2013	$51,900	$53,046
2014	$52,576	$53,482
2015	$53,207	$53,889
2016	$54,727	$55,322
2017	$57,051	$57,652
2018	$59,570	$60,293
2019	$61,874	$62,843
2020	$63,826	$64,994
2021	$67,321	$69,021
2022	$73,035	$75,149

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates

Jobs and Industry

Between 2012 and 2022, Texas employment expanded by about 24 percent, outpacing U.S. gains of 14 percent. The Capital region led job growth during this period at 46 percent, followed by the Metroplex and Alamo regions at 29 percent and 22 percent, respectively (Exhibit 14).

Total Employment (2022) and Changes in Employment Levels (2012-2022) by Comptroller Region

Region	Total Employed, 2022	Total Change, 2012-2022	Percent Change, 2012-2022	Average Annual Wages, 2022
Alamo	1,191,132	215,207	22.1%	$59,544
Capital	1,240,192	393,036	46.4%	$81,123
Central Texas	468,398	70,108	17.6%	$53,113
High Plains	378,084	23,723	6.7%	$53,520
Gulf Coast	3,161,530	465,526	17.3%	$76,044
Metroplex	3,983,672	905,929	29.4%	$74,254
Northwest	207,382	4,242	2.1%	$49,389
South Texas	848,890	81,408	10.6%	$45,024
Upper East	431,575	23,151	5.7%	$51,247
Upper Rio Grande	328,006	41,359	14.4%	$47,219
Southeast	260,982	-3,648	-1.4%	$55,998
West Texas	303,805	39,994	15.2%	$71,079
Texas	13,249,180	2,521,454	23.5%	$69,614
United States	150,025,578	18,329,359	13.9%	$69,986

Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

The state’s largest industries by employment were in restaurants and other eating places, public and higher education, health care services, and computer systems design services. These large industries saw strong job gains between 2012 and 2022, including a 123 percent increase in computer systems design jobs.

Many of these industries also have large location quotient (LQ) levels — a measure of an industry’s relative size in a region compared with its average size in the U.S. (Exhibit 15). An LQ of 1.25 or higher indicates that the region has a comparative advantage in the industry and that the industry is highly concentrated and unique to the regional economy.

Largest Industries by Employment, Texas, 2022

Industry	Employment	Employment Change, 2012-2022	Percent Change, 2012-2022	Average Annual Wages	Location Quotient	Establishments
Restaurants and Other Eating Places	1,051,008	255,593	32.1%	$23,725	1.11	48,802
Elementary and Secondary Schools	878,580	108,466	14.1%	$50,345	1.22	2,411
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	410,195	46,564	12.8%	$77,729	0.76	810
Employment Services	350,088	82,874	31.0%	$55,254	1.01	8,937
Computer Systems Design and Related Services	274,372	151,359	123.0%	$131,949	1.23	31,869
Home Health Care Services	262,562	17,712	7.2%	$26,149	1.91	5,631
Offices of Physicians	258,102	61,626	31.4%	$101,735	1.01	23,660
Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools	243,126	26,372	12.2%	$72,999	0.91	772
Grocery and Convenience Retailers	242,326	51,958	27.3%	$31,819	0.98	7,060
Justice, Public Order and Safety Activities	219,988	3,100	1.4%	$78,398	1.32	2,452
Total - All Industries	13,249,180	2,521,454	23.5%	$69,614	1.00	805,090

Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Restaurants and other eating places led total employment growth among industries in the state between 2012 and 2022, followed by strong gains in warehousing and storage and several industries related to business services — computer systems design services; management, scientific and technical consulting services; management of companies and enterprises; and employment services such as human resources administration (Exhibit 16).

Industries with Largest Total Employment Growth, Texas, 2012-2022

Industry	Employment	Employment Change, 2012-2022	Percent Change, 2012-2022	Average Annual Wages	Location Quotient	Establishments
Restaurants and Other Eating Places	1,051,008	255,593	32.1%	$23,725	1.11	48,802
Computer Systems Design and Related Services	274,372	151,359	123.0%	$131,949	1.23	31,869
Warehousing and Storage	170,976	123,743	262.0%	$46,879	1.00	1,899
Elementary and Secondary Schools	878,580	108,466	14.1%	$50,345	1.22	2,411
Management, Scientific and Technical Consulting Services	196,326	96,250	96.2%	$110,215	1.21	28,788
Management of Companies and Enterprises	172,544	85,102	97.3%	$158,563	0.77	4,348
Employment Services	350,088	82,874	31.0%	$55,254	1.01	8,937
Individual and Family Services	155,299	75,546	94.7%	$32,601	0.58	21,482
Building Equipment Contractors	216,729	66,871	44.6%	$68,560	1.02	16,995
Offices of Physicians	258,102	61,626	31.4%	$101,735	1.01	23,660
Total - All Industries	13,249,180	2,521,454	23.5%	$69,614	1.00	805,090

Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Ranking regional industries by LQ – a method to identify heavily concentrated and specialized industries in an area – shows, unsurprisingly, several industries in the oil and gas sector, including oil and gas extraction; pipeline transportation of crude oil; support activities for mining; pipeline transportation of natural gas; and merchant wholesalers of petroleum products (Exhibit 17).

Industries with Greatest Location Quotients, Texas, 2022

Industry	Employment	Employment Change, 2012-2022	Percent Change, 2012-2022	Average Annual Wages	Location Quotient	Establishments
Oil and Gas Extraction	60,131	-36,517	-37.8%	$224,385	5.96	2,592
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil	5,578	814	17.1%	$132,853	5.73	238
Support Activities for Mining	125,818	-37,457	-22.9%	$112,149	5.37	5,767
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas	12,326	1,013	9.0%	$197,293	4.26	430
Hunting and Trapping	539	197	57.6%	$46,967	2.85	145
Basic Chemical Manufacturing	34,999	3,229	10.2%	$152,888	2.58	531
Footwear Manufacturing	2,629	-100	-3.7%	$40,914	2.57	49
Support Activities for Rail Transportation	7,402	2,686	57.0%	$65,262	2.38	233
Other Pipeline Transportation	1,688	1,011	149.3%	$125,773	2.32	91
Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers	20,128	4,700	30.5%	$157,343	2.26	964
Total - All Industries	13,249,180	2,521,454	23.5%	$69,614	1.00	805,090

Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

State Occupations

Some of the fastest growing occupations in Texas also boast strong average annual wages, including general and operations managers, software and web developers and programmers, and logisticians and project management specialists. These and other fast-growing occupations like material movers, truck drivers and customer service representatives reflect the state’s strong presence of business operations and warehousing and transportation industries (Exhibit 18).

Occupations with Greatest Employment Gains, Texas, 2012-2022

Occupation	Employment	Employment Change, 2012 -2022	Percent Change, 2012-2022	Average Annual Wages	Location Quotient
General and Operations Managers	422,932	193,621	84.4%	$114,600	1.36
Laborers and Material Movers	598,102	176,650	41.9%	$35,600	0.96
Customer Service Representatives	325,169	99,811	44.3%	$40,400	1.24
Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers	344,372	89,767	35.3%	$48,300	1.06
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	293,889	84,979	40.7%	$24,000	0.89
Software and Web Developers, Programmers, and Testers	182,321	77,053	73.2%	$116,200	0.95
Fast Food and Counter Workers	347,672	70,295	25.3%	$25,400	1.13
Logisticians and Project Management Specialists	114,924	62,994	121.3%	$94,400	1.18
Cooks	215,186	57,521	36.5%	$30,800	0.87
Miscellaneous Sales Representatives, Services	108,617	51,085	88.8%	$73,100	1.09

Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics programs

State Infrastructure

Housing Affordability

The Texas Housing Affordability Index (THAI) from the Texas A&M Real Estate Center measures the ability of a household earning the median family income to purchase a median-priced home. An index ratio greater than 1 means that the median family income is more than the income required to purchase a median-priced home in a specific area. The calculations for the index assume that consumers are making a down payment of 20 percent and have a family income that is 25 percent of the price of the median home.

According to the THAI , a median-income family in Texas in 2022 had about 1.19 times the income needed to afford the median home in the state, down from 1.54 times the income needed in 2017. Among the state’s most populous metropolitan areas, the affordability measure ranges from 0.96 in Austin-Round Rock to 1.26 in Houston. Affordability levels in each area are lower in 2022 compared with 2017 (Exhibit 19).

Exhibit 19 data

Housing Affordability Index in Texas and Select Metropolitan Areas, 2017-2022

Area	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Fort Worth-Arlington MD	1.76	1.54	1.55	1.88	1.6	1.21
Dallas-Plano-Irving MD	1.42	1.29	1.33	1.68	1.49	1.06
Austin-Round Rock MSA	1.47	1.33	1.38	1.73	1.36	0.96
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA	1.54	1.37	1.34	1.57	1.41	1.13
San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA	1.59	1.42	1.46	1.74	1.6	1.22
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugarland MSA	1.68	1.53	1.55	1.83	1.63	1.26
Texas	1.54	1.39	1.43	1.78	1.53	1.19

Source: Texas A&M Real Estate Center

Transportation

Transportation planning comprises a collaborative effort between federal, state and local entities. Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are federally mandated policymaking organizations created to coordinate transportation planning in urbanized areas with a population of more than 50,000. There are 23 MPOs in Texas.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) divides the state into 25 county-based transportation districts, which oversees the construction and maintenance of state highways. There are 25 county-based TxDOT districts across the state.

Exhibit 20 lists road miles and vehicle miles traveled for the state’s roadway network by road type, as of 2022. On-system roads are those under the jurisdiction of TxDOT, whereas off-system roads are under jurisdiction of cities, counties, the federal government or private entities (e.g., private toll roads). Centerline refers to mileage of a roadway regardless of lanes; it is taken from the center of the roadway. Lane mileage refers to the mileage for all lanes combined. Daily vehicle miles traveled refers to the estimated daily mileage of all vehicles using that roadway, whereas daily truck miles traveled refers to the estimated daily mileage of trucks using that roadway.

Road Miles and Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled, Texas, 2022

Road Type	Centerline Miles	Lane Miles	Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled	Daily Truck Miles Traveled
Interstate Highways	3,475.7	17,547.2	206,050,779.4	40,703,437.2
U.S. Highways	11,842.0	35,594.2	115,970,249.7	19,025,594.6
State Highways, Spurs, Loops, Business Routes	16,491.1	44,161.2	139,854,244.3	15,349,018.2
Farm or Ranch to Market Roads and Spurs	40,870.1	85,484.0	82,341,141.2	7,353,664.2
Pass, Park and Recreation Roads	350.0	789.0	1,173,092.9	67,533.1
Frontage Roads	7,967.8	16,715.1	39,546,997.3	2,039,527.4
On-System Subtotal	80,996.6	200,290.8	584,936,504.9	84,538,774.7
City Streets	88,586.9	191,350.6	140,959,217.7	5,787,882.2
Certified County Roads	150,645.7	302,893.1	44,825,917.0	1,819,637.4
Toll Road Authority Roads	443.8	2,051.9	25,854,682.4	1,924,541.8
Federal Roads	2,690.5	5,381.0	385,282.6	12,671.1
Off-System Subtotal	242,366.9	501,676.6	212,025,099.7	9,544,732.5
Texas Total	323,363.4	701,967.5	796,961,604.5	94,083,507.1

Source: Texas Department of Transportation

Many transit districts help provide safe, reliable and accessible transportation services to citizens of the Texas. The state includes eight Metropolitan Transit Authorities (serving areas with populations greater than 200,000), 31 Urban Transit Systems (serving areas with populations between 50,000 and 200,000) and 36 Rural Transit Systems (serving areas outside the urbanized area) (Exhibit 21). Another 58 public entities offer limited service specifically for seniors and those with disabilities.

Transit Districts, Revenue and Ridership Statistics, Texas, 2022

District	Total Operating Expense	Total Revenue	Total Unlinked Passenger Trips	Average Passenger Trips Per Capita	Average Operating Expense Per Trip
Metro Transit Authorities (8)	$2,358,364,049	$2,694,525,398	155,858,007	9.7	$16.39
Large Urban Transit Districts (6)	$59,183,645	$25,383,591	5,523,383	3.7	$14.33
Small Urban Transit Districts (25)	$95,900,633	$32,116,011	10,176,083	3.0	$25.85
Rural Transit Districts (36)	$109,402,199	$23,497,195	3,340,875	4.7	$43.95

Source: Texas Department of Transportation

Rail Service

Amtrak interstate passenger rail service runs three routes through Texas (Texas Eagle, Heartland Flyer and Sunset Limited). Texans can get direct service to Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Oklahoma City, plus numerous stops along the way, as well as connections to the rest of the country. Amtrak’s Texas station stops include the state’s largest cities and many smaller ones (Exhibit 22).

Amtrak Station Stops in Texas by Comptroller Region

Region	Station Stops
Alamo Region	San Antonio
Capital Region	Austin San Marcos Taylor
Central Texas Region	McGregor Temple
Gulf Coast Region	Houston
Metroplex Region	Cleburne Dallas Fort Worth Gainesville
South Texas Region	Del Rio
Southeast Region	Beaumont
Upper East Region	Longview Marshall Mineola Texarkana
Upper Rio Grande Region	Alpine El Paso
West Texas Region	Sanderson

Source: Amtrak

Airports

Texas has 27 commercial airports offering passenger service. Exhibit 23 lists the 10 largest airports in the state and compares 2021 and 2022 the number of enplanements (passenger boardings).

Largest Commercial Airports by Enplanements in Texas, 2021 and 2022

Region	Airport Name	City	U.S. Rank	2021 Enplanements	2022 Enplanements	Percent Change
Metroplex	Dallas-Fort Worth International	Fort Worth	2	30,005,266	35,345,138	17.8%
Gulf Coast	George Bush Intercontinental/Houston	Houston	15	16,242,821	19,814,052	22.0%
Capital	Austin-Bergstrom International	Austin	27	6,666,215	10,382,573	55.8%
Metroplex	Dallas Love Field	Dallas	32	6,487,563	7,819,129	20.5%
Gulf Coast	William P. Hobby	Houston	35	5,560,780	6,462,948	16.2%
Alamo	San Antonio International	San Antonio	45	3,677,643	4,751,610	29.2%
Upper Rio Grande	El Paso International	El Paso	69	1,438,321	1,931,067	34.3%
West Texas	Midland International Air and Space Port	Midland	113	504,264	633,964	25.7%
High Plains	Lubbock Preston Smith International	Lubbock	131	405,157	489,710	20.9%
South Texas	McAllen Miller International	McAllen	134	477,636	452,925	-5.2%

Source: Federal Aviation Administration

Ports of Entry

Texas’ location and proximity to Mexico make it a leader in international trade. With ports of entry in eight of its 12 economic regions, Texas accounts for almost 20 percent of all U.S. trade. In 2022, more than $547 billion was exported and more than $503 billion was imported through ports of entry located in Texas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Texas vs. the U.S.

Based on data from the World Bank and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, if Texas were a nation, it would rank as the world’s eighth largest economy in terms of GDP. Exhibit 24 shows how Texas ranks among other states and the nation on several demographic and economic measures.

Texas and the U.S. Compared; State Ranking, 2022

Indicator	Texas	State Rank	U.S.
Square Miles (land)	261,268	2	3,533,038
Population, 2022	30,029,572	2	333,287,562
Population (over 25 years old) with High School Diploma or Higher, 2022	86.1%	50	89.6%
Population (over 25 years old) with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, 2022	33.9%	28	35.7%
Population Under Age 18, 2022	24.8%	2	27.9%
Population Age 65 or Over, 2022	13.4%	49	12.9%
Population Percent Change, 2012 to 2022	15.3%	2	6.3%
Median Household Income, 2022	$72,284	25	$74,755
Unemployment Rate, 2022	3.5%	27	4.3%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

Texas Economic Development Highlights

• The state of Texas had an historic budget surplus of more than $32 billion (2022-2023 ending General Revenue balance) at the beginning of the 88th Regular Session.
• The Legislature passed the Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation Act (JETI), a new economic incentive program that replaces the Chapter 313 program.
• According to the 2023 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (PDF), Texas employed over 936,000 energy workers statewide and accounts for 11.5 percent of all U.S. energy jobs.
• In 2022, Texas was second in the U.S. in GDP with $2.4 trillion; almost a tenth of the GDP of the United States
• Texas had more than $1 trillion in international trade in 2022.

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Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the material on this page, please contact the Comptroller’s Data Analysis and Transparency Division.