Once again, Austin tops another list. According to Forbes, Texas — and Austin, in particular — is leading the charge for job growth in America.
Of the 10 best cities for future job growth through 2015, seven are in Texas, with Austin, McAllen, Houston and Fort Worth taking the top four positions. Ocala, Florida, takes the fifth spot; Santa Cruz, California is sixth; and Salt Lake City comes in seventh. The final three spots go to Dallas, Laredo and Brownsville.
Austin earned No. 1 status thanks to annual job growth of 4 percent and unemployment rate of 5.5 percent.
Austin earned No. 1 status thanks to an annual job growth of 4 percent, a median income just under $60,000, and an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent, while also wooing companies like Facebook, Apple, AT&T and, of course, Google Fiber.
Naturally, the energy industry is still top dog in Texas, with cities like Fort Worth and Houston reaping the benefits. Brownsville and McAllen can thank manufacturing for their rapid growth.
There is, however, an income disparity between cities in Texas. Although Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Houston have median incomes between $55,000 and $60,000, they are significantly lower in McAllen, Laredo and Brownsville, both of which cap out in the mid-30s.
Whether it's a big city or a burgeoning town, one thing is clear: Texas is poised for serious growth.
