The Lone Star State is America’s business powerhouse with people finding Texas employment opportunities every day. Texas has escaped much of the worst of the global market’s recent economic downturn, and Texas employment is still booming. While unemployment has soared in most other states in recent months, it has only inched up in Texas. Texas has no state income tax, so a number of startups, multinationals and other big businesses operate here. With so many Fortune 500 companies calling the state home, Texas employment can be found at all levels, from delivery driver to CEO.
Texas unemployment
Texas unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) increased from October 2008 to October 2009 by 3% to a rate of 8.3%
[Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]
Texas Employment Opportunities
A wide range of opportunities are available in Texas employment as a result of its business-friendly regulatory and tax structures. Almost 10% of the Fortune 500 is headquartered in the Lone Star State, with some of the biggest names on that list — Exxon Mobil, Dell Computers, American Airlines — making Texas their home.
Texas is known around the world as one of the leading centers of energy production, with oil being its most well established big business. From Brownsville to Beaumont the state’s southeastern and Gulf Coast region hosts petroleum, natural gas and other energy businesses key to the state’s economic strength. Home to most of the biggest US oil firms, Texas employment actually improves when high fuel costs kill jobs around the rest of the country. Labor employment at energy’s production end — roughnecks, drill technicians and other grunts of the oil and natural gas industry — make big bucks for their dangerous and exhausting work. A large number of people who would otherwise struggle to find decent employment with their education level earn solidly middle class salaries in this work. Like any corporation, these companies hire a huge force of white collar employees as well.
Texas also benefits from the consumption end of energy: it is home to a large transportation industry. American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Greyhound Bus Lines and a number of other smaller transport companies make Texas their home. Texas employment also extends to car, helicopter and defense manufacturers with large GM, Toyota, Lockheed-Martin, Bell Helicopter and Raytheon plants. Labor is less organized in Texas, and the state is “right to work,” meaning it is difficult to form unions. That has kept operating costs low for employers, drawing them to the state. This also means wages have been kept low, but with fewer taxes Texas has one of the country’s most reasonable costs of living.
One area the Lone Star State is famous for is the hospitality and restaurant industry. Texas is home to Brinker International, owner of Chili’s, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, On the Border and other chain restaurants — both Chili’s and the Macaroni Grill were started in Texas. Pizza Hut, Dr. Pepper and a host of other food and beverage companies give Texas employment a delicious twist.
Unemployment in Texas is lower than the national average. Nationally, over 9% of Americans are unemployed. In Texas, it is 7%, with public sector jobs and the leisure and hospitality sector still growing even in this recession.
Texas Employment Resources
There are a number of public and private institutions working to increase and facilitate Texas employment. The main state agency for this purpose is the Texas Workforce Commission. Besides administering unemployment benefits in the state, the Commission contributes to Texas employment by offering a broad variety of services including the maintenance of official statistics regarding Texas employment, job training and locating assistance as well as campaigns to attract new jobs to the state. The Commission has more than twenty local boards and offices scattered around the state to provide local employment assistance. Their website is http://www.twc.state.tx.us
Another terrific Texas employment resource is a website actually provided by the Texas Workforce Commission: WorkInTexas.com. This site has special sections for employers and job seekers, streamlining the process of finding a job or finding employees in the state. And with Texas home to one of the nation’s largest Latino populations, the site is available in both English and Spanish. Registration is free and the service is widely used and advertised. Some cities and local governments also offer resources for Texas employment: CareersInHouston.com is one such site, also Dallas.EmploymentGuide.com. Getting a job in Texas isn’t very hard. If you hit some snags, these sites offer you a helping hand.
Texas Living Conditions
Texas is BIG: conditions, climates and geographies vary wildly across the state. Summers in general are very hot and often subject to drought in Texas — triple digit temperatures are normal in July and August. The payoff is in the winter — while the Panhandle and parts of North Texas can be cold and chilly, Texas employment still means leaving your heaviest coats back up north. The coastal area of Texas — the state’s most densely populated — is wet and humid, so get ready for some brutal summers.
Those who secure Texas employment are likely to find that their cost of living is lower (a result of low taxes), with more stability in their home’s value. Recreationally, Texas has beaches, a few mountains, hunting, camping and fishing all over, numerous beautiful recreational rivers and is home to a number of sports teams. High school football is the state’s passion, and the sport takes hold of towns across the state every fall. Texas hosts five of the US’ twenty largest cities, so there is something for everybody. Art, music, fashion, shopping and other attractions are all available to those who’ve secured Texas employment.
Texas Employment
Texas employment has continued in its strength as a result of low taxes, an otherwise perfect business climate, plentiful natural resources, good weather for tourism and entertainment, a number of the country’s biggest and most diverse communities and its heritage as a place where people stand tall and expect to get things done. Whether you are working in data processing in Dallas or health care in Houston, with the nation’s strongest economy you’ll see why other states are looking to Texas for answers. Times are tough, but Texans are tougher: search for Texas employment today, and say “Howdy!” to your future.
