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Austin deemed one of America's all-stars for job growth by new report

From 2009 to 2018, Austin added 295,000 jobs for a growth rate of 38.1 percent.

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In terms of job growth, Austin sits near the peak of the economic mountain in the United States.

A new report from commercial real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield recognizes Austin as one of the top metros for job growth among 35 major areas from 2009 — at the end of the Great Recession — to 2018.

For the report, Cushman & Wakefield analyzed the percentage change in job growth from 2009 to 2018 for the 35 metro areas and the number of jobs those regions added during the same period. The company’s researchers then averaged those two figures to compute an overall score for each metro area.

Austin landed at No. 5, with an overall score of 8.5. In Cushman & Wakefield's assessment, the lower the number, the better.

The report shows that from 2009 to 2018, Austin added 295,000 jobs for a growth rate of 38.1 percent, the largest percent increase of the metros analyzed.

Austin was one of six "all-star" metro areas highlighted in the report. All of them have added jobs at a "breakneck pace" during the current economic expansion, Cushman & Wakefield says. At least for now, job growth in Austin shows little sign of letting up, in tandem with the area's continuing population boom, and consistent high marks for its quality of life.

Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal named Austin the top U.S. job market, and another study called the Capital City one of the best performers in the country for jobs. In 2018, Austin was declared one of the top 10 hottest housing markets, a top economic powerhouse, and best place to live in the U.S. The year before that, Austin was named one of the best places for recent graduates and one of the world's top cities to watch.

Another Texas metro ranks No. 1 on the "all-star" list, with an overall score of 5. The report shows that from 2009 to 2018, Dallas-Fort Worth added 754,200 jobs for a growth rate of 25.7 percent.

In descending order, the all-star metros cited by Cushman & Wakefield are DFW; New York City and San Francisco, (each with a score of 7.5, tied for second place); Riverside-San Bernardino, California (score of 8, fourth place); Austin (8.5, fifth place); and Orlando, Florida (9, sixth place).

(While Austin registered the largest percentage increase in jobs, the growth in sheer number of jobs places it at No. 16 among the 35 metro areas for total employment growth. Once those two figures were averaged, Austin sat at No. 5 in the metro rankings.)

Two other Texas cities — Houston (score of 13 in the Cushman & Wakefield report) and San Antonio (score of 18.5) — were among the metro areas in the next tier, which Cushman & Wakefield classified as “overachievers.” While not at the same level as the all-stars, these metros are outperforming the country as a whole, the report says.

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SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

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