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There is a spreadsheet version of the data on the page (xls).

Several of the types of data on this page are also available in the Economic Indicators section, which is updated monthly.


Austin became a world-renown region for the knowledge-based economy built on outstanding university-based research, an entrepreneurial culture, venture funding, a broad array of support services and a rich pool of intellectual talent and leadership. That’s why it’s no surprise that Samsung chose Austin to locate its newest next generation semiconductor facility, one of the largest foreign investments in the U.S., and why Whole Foods grew from a single Austin grocery store to a Fortune 500 giant.

Austin companies contribute the technological infrastructure that makes cars run smarter, games play faster, cell phones do more and will take all industries into the future. And thanks to our strong ties to the University of Texas, university and corporate collaborations have yielded world-class programs in bioengineering, computer science, engineering, business, nanotechnology, bioinformatics and pharmaceutical research.

In fact, Site Selection named the state of Texas “Top Business Climate” in 2006 saying Texas triumphs other cities due to pro-business measures, ease of doing business, overall business costs, actual capital investment and the state’s fiscal health. And Austin is the top place to do business in Texas. So in other words, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Region's Largest Employers

This region boasts the addresses of business leaders, in all sizes from all across the globe. And there are some very good reasons why. From championing innovation to cost advantages and incentives, we are not only positioned for success, we are poised for it. And so are the companies that grow and move here. Find yourself in some very good company:

CompanyDescription
Employing 6,000 & over
Austin School DistrictPublic education
City of AustinGovernment
DellComputer equipment mfg./sales (Hdq.)
Federal GovernmentGovernment
IBM Corp. Computer hardware & software R&D
Seton Healthcare Network Health care (Hdq.)
St. David’s Healthcare Partnership Health care (Hdq.)
State of TexasGovernment
University of Texas at Austin Higher education, public
Employing 2,000-5,999
Advanced Micro Devices Semiconductor chip engineering, marketing & admin
Apple Computer Computer maker s technical & admin. support center
AT&T Telecommunications (Hdq. of TX operations)
Austin Community College Higher education, public
Flextronics (formerly Solectron) Electronics mfg. & integrated supply chain services
Freescale Semiconductor Semiconductor chip design & mfg. (Hdq.)
Leander School DistrictPublic education
National Instruments Virtual instrumentation software & hardware mfg. & R&D (Hdq.)
Pflugerville School District Public education
Round Rock School DistrictPublic education
Texas State University-San Marcos Higher education
Travis County Government
U.S. Internal Revenue Service Government (regional call center & processing center)
Employing 1,000-1,999
3M Corp.Electronic connectors & test equipment mfg./R&D
Applied Materials Semiconductor production equipment mfg.
Austin Energy Municipal utility
Austin Regional Clinic Healthcare
Capitol Metro Transportation AuthorityPublic transit
Girling Health Care Healthcare (Hdq.)
Harte-Hanks Response Management Marketing & advertising services, call center
Hospira Pharmaceutical & drug delivery systems dev. & mfg.
Keller Williams Realty Residential real estate (Hdq.)
Lower Colorado River Authority Electric power distribution (Hdq.)
PPD Development Biopharm & medical device contract research services
Samsung Austin Semiconductor Semiconductor chip mfg. (Hdq.)
Sears Teleserve Retailer customer service center
Spansion Memory chip mfg.
State Farm Insurance Co. Insurance
Time Warner Cable Co. Media & communications
Whole Foods Market Grocery retailer (Hdq.)
Williamson CountyGovernment
Employing 500-999
ACS State Healthcare Medicaid program administrator, call center outsourcing
Aditya Birla Minacs Customer service center (for automotive mfg.)
American Achievement Corp. Commemorative & scholastic products mfg. (Hdq.)
American Cancer Society Nonprofit, call center & regional hdq.
Austin American-Statesman Newspaper publishing
BAE Systems Defense & aerospace equipment mfg.
Bank of America Banking
Blizzard Entertainment Game software publisher's call center
Cisco Systems Interconnect devices mfg.
Clinical Pathology Laboratories Medical laboratory services (Hdq.)
Concordia University Texas Higher education, private
Dresser Wayne Gasoline dispenser & control systems mfg. (Hdq.)
Dynamic Systems HVAC, plumbing contractor (Hdq.)
Electric Reliability Council of Texas Electric power grid administrator (Hdq.)
Emerson Process Management Process control software & systems R&D (Hdq.)
Farmers Insurance Group Insurance
GCA Services Commercial janitorial & facility maintenance services
Goodwill Industries Nonprofit
Hewlett-Packard Computer maker's data center customer support services
Home Depot Technology Center Retailer data center, tech support & customer service center
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Supplemental Publishers Textbook publishing, education materials design
Hunter Industries Highway construction & crushed limestone mining (Hdq.)
Image Microsystems Computer & plastics recylcing, refurbishing, & mfg. (Hdq.)
Intel Microprocessor design center
J. C. Evans Construction Co. Construction (Hdq.)
JPMorgan Chase Bank Banking
Maximus Social services program administrator
OneWest Bank Group (formerly Indymac) Savings & loan, mortgage banker
Oracle Enterprise software development, data center
Progressive Insurance Co. Insurance (call center)
St. Edward’s University Higher education
TeleNetwork Outsourced tech support & managed services call center (Hdq.)
Temple-Inland Corrugated packaging, forest products (Hdq.)
Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp. Student financial aid program administrator
United Parcel Service Delivery services
URS Corp. Engineering
U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs Government (data center & admin for VA operations)
Wells Fargo Bank TexasBanking
Major Employers Map (484 kb).
High Tech Employers Map (460 kb).
Call Centers Map (534 kb).
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Recent Announced Locations & Expansions

The Austin area was named number one in Expansion Management’s “Top Metros for Future Business Locations” in 2006, calling Austin "the total package" and number one again in 2007 as "The City Where Business Opportunity is Greatest for Growing Companies." These evaluations are based on assessments of 332 metro areas based on criteria used by site selectors in making location recommendations. From a low cost of doing business to affordable home prices, to a lower overall cost of living compared with most of the rest of the country, the Austin region makes financial sense. Our tax structure is fair, user friendly, competitive and designed to make companies feel welcome.

Recent announcements to either locate significant new facilities or expand existing operations have been made by:

Airborn Farmers Insurance OneWest Bank Group
Apple Freescale Semiconductor Oracle
BAE Systems HelioVolt PayPal
Blizzard Entertainment Hewlett-Packard PIE Screening
Borland Software IBM Samsung
CFAN iEnergizer SmartSpark Energy Systems
Compass Learning Image Microsystems St. Jude Medical
Demand Media Intel TeleNetwork
Dimensional Fund Advisors KoMiCo TECO-Westinghouse
DMX Motorola Touch International
Enfatico National Instruments U.S. Internal Revenue Service
For a more comprehensive listing see the Relocations and Expansions Log in the Media Center.
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Venture Capital Investment

With a demonstrated capacity of generating new ideas, Central Texas is one of the top targets for venture capital investment in the country.

Venture Capital Investment in Austin Area Companies
Venture Capital Investment in Austin Area Companies by Industry/Technology
  2006 2007 2008
Biotechnology $50,595,000 $43,499,100  
Business products & services 4,500,000 17,274,000 950,000
Computers & peripherals 10,572,000   12,797,200
Consumer products & services 11,600,000 1,476,000 8,378,800
Electronics/instrumentation 35,757,200 12,545,100 2,499,900
Financial services 38,680,000   24,409,100
Healthcare services 14,800,000   2,300,000
Industrial/energy   101,000,000 12,500,100
IT services 84,362,700 36,722,000 31,903,100
Media & entertainment 12,516,000 2,999,000 26,408,000
Medical devices & equipment 27,670,100 106,820,100 36,464,700
Networking & equipment 25,746,000 14,758,000 820,000
Retailing & distribution 16,462,000    
Semiconductors 125,090,000 141,272,600 85,200,400
Software 147,089,000 156,230,900 95,527,000
Telecommunications 72,500,000 24,180,800  
Total 677,940,000 658,777,600 340,158,300
Note: Additional venture capital data is available via the Chamber's Economic Indicators page.
Source: PricewaterhouseCooper/Venture Economics/NVCA MoneyTree Survey.
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Patent Activity

Austin has earned its reputation as a city of creativity, innovation and invention. Patents are one of the best measurements of innovation and Austin has always been extremely competitive in the number of patents issued yearly. The University of Texas is third in the nation in the number of patents earned.

According to a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office geographic analysis patent activity in the 1990s, Austin outpaces much larger and more economically diverse regions such as Phoenix, Seattle, Denver and Raleigh-Durham. This demonstrated capacity for generating new ideas has only increased in the new century. In 2006, The Wall Street Journal named Austin the No. 3 Most Inventive City due to patent activity.

Note: Additional patent data is available via the Chamber's Economic Indicators page.
Source: U.S. Patent & Trademark Office data compiled by Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, Austin, TX.
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Business Establishments by Employment Size Class

If the large employers reflect diversity, it is the smaller ones that reflect the economy's dynamism. Ever since Michael Dell started selling computers from his University of Texas dorm room, thousands of talented, creative people have started businesses in Austin. The award-winning Austin Technology Incubator, the technology commercialization programs at the University of Texas' IC2 Institute and the Central Texas Angel Network, which matches investors and promising new companies, are among the area's resources for entrepreneurial companies.

Business Establishments by Employment Size Class 2006
  Total establishments Establishments by employment-size class
1-19 20-99 100-499 500 & over
Austin MSA 37,489 31,858 4,701 834 96
Bastrop Co. 964 869 82 13 0
Caldwell Co. 499 455 37 7 0
Hays Co. 2,761 2,412 300 45 4
Travis Co. 26,614 22,339 3,552 647 76
Williamson Co. 6651 5,783 730 122 16
Business Establishments by Employment Size Class, Austin MSA
  Total establishments Establishments by employment-size class
1-19 20-99 100-499 500 & over
2000 31,822 26,908 4,066 751 97
2001 32,399 27,290 4,239 770 100
2002 33,362 28,346 4,222 702 92
2003 33,915 28,889 4,239 709 78
2004 34,818 29,657 4,357 721 83
2005 35,864 30,542 4,470 765 87
2006 37,489 31,858 4,701 834 96
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns.
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Business Establishments by Industry 2006
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns.
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Retail Sector
Retail Sector 2008, Austin MSA
  Establishments Sales (millions)
Food 991 $4,467.1
Eating/drinking places 3,346 3,242.1
General merchandise 323 6,301.3
Apparel/accessories 1,246 1,904.6
Furniture/appliances 1,728 2,783.1
Automotive dealers 1,098 5,327.6
Gas service stations 462 3,062.3
Building materials/hardware 775 3,465.9
Drug stores 582 1,632.7
Total 13,012 42,478.0
Retail Sector 2008, By County
  Establishments Sales (millions)
Bastrop County 471 $856.2
Caldwell County 263 324.7
Hays County 1,182 2,908.7
Travis County 8,547 17,452.2
Williamson County 2,549 20,936.2
Note: Additional retail sales data is available via the Chamber's Economic Indicators page.
Source: Claritas/Market Statistics, Demographics USA.
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Office & Industrial Real Estate Market

Corporate real estate opportunities abound for growing companies with long-term expansion plans. Thanks to a continuing supply of office and industrial space and a wide variety of environmental characteristics, the region can accommodate nearly any operation, large or small. With much of Austin’s development occurring over the past decade, facilities are modern and attractive. Class A office space is available in a vibrant downtown as well as a variety of suburban markets. In addition, the area has several campus-style facilities that are available for lease. The Austin Chamber can help your company locate the site that fits your needs.

Office Real Estate Market, 1st Quarter 2009
    Inventory
(sq. ft.)
Vacant
(sq. ft)
Vacancy rate Rental rate
All Markets Class A 29,311,803 5,226,168 17.8% $29.09
Class B 36,042,827 4,321,979 12.0% $22.36
Class C 11,541,915 888,657 7.7% $19.13
Total 76,896,545 10,436,804 13.6% $25.45
Downtown Class A 6,390,125 711,734 11.1% $36.48
Class B 4,478,767 422,173 9.4% $25.61
Class C 2,453,683 169,507 6.9% $19.50
Total 13,322,575 1,303,414 9.8% $31.10
Suburban Class A 22,921,678 4,514,434 19.7% $27.82
Class B 31,564,060 3,899,806 12.4% $22.08
Class C 9,088,232 719,150 7.9% $19.03
Total 63,573,970 9,133,390 14.4% $24.65
Industrial Real Estate Market, 1st Quarter 2009
  Inventory
(sq. ft.)
Vacant
(sq. ft)
Vacancy rate Rental rate
Flex 20,761,796 3,167,920 15.3% $9.99
Warehouse/Manufacturing 59,456,854 6,370,295 10.7% $6.20
Total Industrial 80,218,650 9,538,215 11.9% $7.35
Note: Additional office and industrial real estate market data is available via the Chamber's Economic Indicators page.
Source: CoStar.
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Construction Cost Index, 2008
  Residential Commercial
Atlanta 89 90
Austin 79 80
Boston 121 116
Chicago 119 115
Dallas 82 85
Denver 93 94
New York 134 131
Phoenix 86 89
Raleigh 85 79
Salt Lake City 81 88
San Francisco 125 123
Seattle 102 104
United States 100 100
Source: R.S. Means.
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Residential Building Permits
Residential Permits, Austin MSA
Residential Permits by County, 2007
  Total Single-family units Multi-family units
Austin MSA 19,903 12,120 7,783
Bastrop County 206 54 152
Caldwell County 30 30 0
Hays County 1,975 1,527 448
Travis County 12,021 6,602 5,419
Williamson County 5,671 3,907 1,764
Note: Additional residential permits data is available via the Chamber's Economic Indicators page.
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census.
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