Our latest projections indicate that both large and small Texas metropolitan areas are on track to experience notable employment growth over a long-term forecast horizon. While temporary fluctuations are inevitable, the population centers of the state are well-positioned for expansion over an extensive period.
All metropolitan areas are forecast to see employment growth from 2021 to 2050, with several outpacing the statewide rate of 1.50% per year over the period. The greater Houston and Dallas-Plano-Irving areas are expected to account for nearly half of the total employment gain. Almost eight of every 10 new jobs in Texas are projected to be added in the seven largest population centers over the next 30 years, as an ongoing pattern of concentration persists (especially in suburban segments).
The largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) are Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land (with total employment of 3.11 million), followed by the Dallas-Plano-Irving Metropolitan Division (MD) with 2.78 million, the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown MSA (1.14 million), the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA (1.13 million), the Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine MD (1.07 million), the El Paso MSA (352,000), and the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA (277,000).
