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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.
Spreadsheet version of data on this page (xls)

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 AustinHigher education
Employing 2,000-5,999
Advanced Micro Devices Semiconductor chip design, engineering, marketing & mgt
Apple Computer Computer maker's technical & admin. support center
Applied MaterialsSemiconductor production equipment mfg.
AT&T Telecommunications (Hdq. of TX operations)
Austin Community CollegeHigher education
Freescale Semiconductor Semiconductor chip design & mfg. (Hdq.)
Leander School DistrictPublic education
National Instruments Virtual instrumentation software & hardware mfg. & R&D (Hdq.)
Round Rock School DistrictPublic education
Solectron TexasElectronics mfg.
Texas State University-San Marcos Higher education
Travis County Government
U.S. Internal Revenue Service Government
Employing 1,000-1,999
3M Corp.Electronic connectors & test equipment mfg./R&D
ACS State Healthcare Medicaid program administrator
Austin American-Statesman Newspaper publishing
Austin Energy Municipal utility
Capitol Metro Transportation AuthorityPublic transit
Cisco Systems Interconnect devices mfg.
GCA Services Commercial janitorial & facility maintenance services
Girling Health Care Healthcare (Hdq.)
Goodwill Industries Nonprofit
Harcourt Education Textbook publishing
Harte-Hanks Response Management Marketing & advertising services
Hospira Healthcare products mfg.
Keller Williams Realty Residential real estate (Hdq.)
Lower Colorado River Authority Electric power distribution (Hdq.)
PPD Development Biopharm & medical device contract research services
Progressive Insurance Co. Insurance
Samsung Austin Semiconductor Semiconductor chip mfg. (Hdq.)
Sears Teleserve Retailer customer service center
Spansion Memory chip mfg.
State Farm Insurance Co. Insurance
Temple-Inland Corrugated packaging, forest products, real estate, & financial services (Hdq.)
Time Warner Cable Co. Media & communications
Whole Foods Market Grocery retailer (Hdq.)
Williamson CountyGovernment
Employing 500-999
Aditya Birla Minacs Customer service center (for automotive mfg.)
American Achievement Corp. Commemorative & scholastic products (Hdq.)
American Cancer Society Nonprofit, call center & regional hdq.
BAE Systems Defense & aerospace equipment mfg.
Bank of America Banking
Blizzard Entertainment PC-based gaming call center
Clinical Pathology Laboratories Medical laboratory services (Hdq.)
Design ElectricElectrical systems contractor
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
GSD & M's Idea City Advertising agency (Hdq.)
Guaranty Financial Services Banking (Hdq.)
Hewlett-Packard Marketing & customer support services for computer mfg.
Hunter Industries Highway construction & crushed limestone mining (Hdq.)
Intel Microchip design center
J. C. Evans Construction Co. Construction (Hdq.)
JPMorgan Chase Bank Banking
Maximus Social services program administrator
Silicon Laboratories Integrated circuits design (Hdq.)
St. Edward’s University Higher education
TeleNetwork Outsourced tech support & managed services call center (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 & call center for benefits admin.)
Vignette Corp. E-business/content mgt software dev (Hdq.)
Wells Fargo Bank TexasBanking
Major Employers Map (299 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:

Abbott Spine Dell Motorola
Accurate Elastomer Products Dimensional Fund Advisors Movero Technology
Advanced Micro Devices DMX PayPal
Apple Computer Freescale Semiconductor PRC
Asuragen Google Progressive Insurance
Blizzard Entertainment HelioVolt Qualcomm
BMC West Hewlett-Packard Samsung
Borland Software IBM Silicon Laboratories
CFAN Indymac Bank St. Jude Medical
Compass Learning Intel TECO-Westinghouse
Convergys KoMiCo TigerTurf Americas
For a more comprehensive listing see the Relocations and Expansions Log in the Media Center.
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Venture Capital Investment in Austin Metro Companies by Industry/Technology

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

  Year ending December 2006
Biotechnology $1,700,000
Business products & services 10,300,000
Computers & peripherals 10,572,000
Consumer products & services 11,600,000
Electronics/instrumentation 41,757,200
Financial services 38,680,000
Healthcare services 14,800,000
IT services 77,362,800
Media & entertainment 21,116,000
Medical devices & equipment 27,670,100
Networking & equipment 29,246,100
Retailing & distribution 16,462,000
Semiconductors 113,450,000
Software 144,188,900
Telecommunications 53,300,000
Total $612,205,200
Source: Pricewaterhouse Coopers/Venture Economics/NVCA.
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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 Liddell & Sapp, 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 2005
  Total establishments Establishments by employment-size class
1-19 20-99 100-499 500 & over
Austin MSA 35,864 30,542 4,470 765 87
Bastrop Co. 915 833 74 8 0
Caldwell Co. 485 440 38 7 0
Hays Co. 2,691 2,353 296 41 1
Travis Co. 25,626 21,563 3,382 610 71
Williamson Co. 6,147 5,353 680 99 15
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
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns.
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Business Establishments by Industry 2005
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns.
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Retail Sector
Retail Sector 2007, Austin MSA
  Establishments Sales (millions)
Food 1,236 $3,977.1
Eating/drinking places 3,159 3,080.9
General merchandise 303 5,169.0
Apparel/accessories 1,114 1,779.8
Furniture/appliances 1,731 2,672.6
Automotive dealers 1,071 4,845.4
Gas service stations 241 2,650.6
Building materials/hardware 776 3,126.7
Drug stores 568 1,574.4
Total 12,669 39,012.4
Retail Sector 2007, By County
  Establishments Sales (millions)
Bastrop County 444 $851.6
Caldwell County 247 287.1
Hays County 1,142 2,486.1
Travis County 8,407 17,463.1
Williamson County 2,429 17,924.5
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, 3rd Quarter 2007
    Inventory Vacant Vacancy rate Rental rate
All Markets Class A 24,325,218 2,928,265 12.0% $31.99
Class B 29,648,341 4,107,628 13.9% $22.51
Class C 10,060,381 682,289 6.8% $17.66
Total 64,033,940 7,718,182 12.1% $26.49
Downtown Class A 6,428,346 1,090,688 17.0% $32.46
Class B 4,072,055 415,200 10.2% $23.02
Class C 2,434,815 86,576 3.6% $15.48
Total 12,935,216 1,592,464 12.3% $28.78
Suburban Class A 17,896,872 1,837,577 10.3% $31.85
Class B 25,576,286 3,692,428 14.4% $22.46
Class C 7,625,566 595,713 7.8% $18.04
Total 51,098,724 6,125,718 12.0% $26.05
Industrial Real Estate Market, 3rd Quarter 2007
  Inventory Vacant Vacancy rate Rental rate
Flex 19,463,030 3,054,786 15.7% $9.04
Warehouse/Manufacturing 53,268,089 4,262,234 8.0% $6.11
Total Industrial 72,731,119 7,317,020 10.1% $7.16
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, 2006
  Total Single-family units Multi-family units
Austin MSA 26,096 17,615 8,481
Bastrop County 302 226 76
Caldwell County 84 84 0
Hays County 2,518 1,992 526
Travis County 15,738 9,575 6,163
Williamson County 7,454 5,738 1,716
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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