This document summarizes economic data for Austin, Texas from 2000-2015. It finds that Austin has experienced strong population and job growth, ranking highly among US metro areas. While both recessions negatively impacted jobs, Austin rebounded more quickly than the US overall. The city is projected to continue growing its population and key industry clusters through 2015. It concludes that Austin faces challenges in aligning education and workforce programs to support targeted industries.

1. Austin: Beyond the Cranes
Reviewing the Fundamentals &
Looking Ahead to 2015
Austin Chamber of Commerce
Economic Outlook 2014
December 4, 2014
Hyatt Regency Austin

2. 2
• Population change (nom) #10
• Population growth (%) #2
• Job change (nom) #7
• Job growth (%) #1
• GDP change (nom) #21
• GDP growth (%) #3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Jobs
are from 2000 to 2013. GDP is from 2001 to 2013 (2000 not available). Growth rankings (%) are among large MSAs. Data is for Austin-Round Rock MSA.
Austin, TX: A Theory of Everything
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Austin rank among U.S. metros since 2000

3. 3
Austin is averaging 5.7% annual GDP growth
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Data is for Austin-Round Rock MSA. Not adjusted for inflation.
Austin, TX: A Theory of Everything
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texas-a-theory-of-everything/
1.2%
5.6%
9.0% 8.8%
10.0%
4.1%
6.4%
-1.8%
7.2%
5.9%
7.8%
3.8%
-4%
-2%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Austin MSA
U.S.
% Change in GDP (Nominal)
Average (2002-13)
Austin MSA 5.7%
U.S. 3.9%

4. 4
Austin: a tale of two very different recessions
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics. Data is for Austin-Round Rock MSA. Seasonally adjusted.
Austin, TX: A Theory of Everything
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texas-a-theory-of-everything/
-6%
-5%
-4%
-3%
-2%
-1%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
8%
9%
Austin MSA
U.S.
Jan
‘09
Feb
‘10
July
‘01
Dec
‘03
Jan
1991
Aug
2014
Job Growth, 12-month rolling (SA)
AUS U.S.
2010-13 12% 5%
2000s 13% -1%
1990s 63% 18%

5. 5
Population growth is Austin’s great stabilizer
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates. Data is for Austin-Round Rock MSA. U.S. MSA is all metropolitan areas.
Austin, TX: A Theory of Everything
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texas-a-theory-of-everything/
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
8%
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
Austin MSA
U.S. (MSA)
Population Growth, 1970-2013
Austin
2013 2.7%
2012 3.0%
2011 3.1%
Austin MSA
lost jobs

6. 6Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey table B15002 and Census 2000 SF3 table P37. Data is for Austin-Round Rock MSA.
Bach Degree+
Pop Growth
2000-13
Rank
MSA
Total Pop
Growth
2000-13
Rank
MSA
Charlotte 102% 1 35% 5
Grand Rapids 93% 2 9% 33
Las Vegas 91% 3 45% 3
Austin 80% 4 49% 2
Raleigh 79% 5 51% 1
Riverside 74% 6 34% 8
Nashville 72% 7 27% 12
Orlando 66% 8 37% 4
San Antonio 66% 9 32% 9
Phoenix 63% 10 34% 6
Austin is winning the “war for talent”
Austin MSA has added 225,000
people with bachelor’s degree or
higher since 2000 (~17K per year).
Average earnings per worker (age
25+) with a bachelor’s degree or
higher in Austin MSA are $85,608.

7. 7Source: Population forecast is from Ryan Robinson, City Demographer, Department of Planning, City of Austin, January 2014 (*) and EMSI (**).
Employment forecast is from EMSI and does not include self-employment.
Austin MSA: a look ahead to 2015
“The only function of economic
forecasting is to make astrology
look respectable.”
John Kenneth Galbraith
MSA (Pop/Emp) 2014 2015
Population* 3.0% 3.0%
Population** 2.6% 2.1%
Employment 3.8% 3.1%
County (Emp) 2014 2015
Travis 3.4% 2.7%
Williamson 5.0% 4.7%
Hays 5.1% 4.2%

8. 8Source: EMSI, 2014.3 Class of Worker Data Release. Does not include self-employment. NAICS industry definitions for clusters provided by the Austin Chamber of Commerce.
Cluster definitions, and therefore employment and growth figures, may be different from other studies on the Austin economy. Data is for Austin-Round Rock MSA.
Chamber: Opportunity Austin 3.0 targets
Industry Cluster (MSA)
Employment
2014
Estimate
2014
Projected
2015
Data Management 60,185 7.4% 3.4%
Creative & Digital Media 59,148 6.8% 3.7%
Advanced Manufacturing 54,064 3.3% -0.8%
Clean Energy & Power Technology 48,725 3.3% 1.9%
Life Sciences 42,378 6.1% 3.3%
Corporate HQ & Regional Offices N/A N/A N/A
Our challenge:
1. Identifying education
& training needs that
cut across OA targets
2. Prioritizing & scaling
workforce programs
3. Aligning & funding K-
12 CTE programs
4. Communicating what
this will take in clear,
data-driven terms

9. 7600 Burnet Road, Suite 108
Austin, Texas 78757
@civicanalytics
http://civicanalytics.com