Business & Industry – Opportunity Austin

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. That momentum has grown exponentially over the ensuing years; the Austin region has proven to be fertile ground for enterprises of all sizes looking to expand.

BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS BY EMPLOYMENT-SIZE CLASS, 2020
	TOTAL	EMPLOYMENT-SIZE CLASS
		1-19	20-99	100-499	500+
Austin MSA	57,973	49,052	7,446	1,314	200
Bastrop Co.	1,494	1,340	133	17
Caldwell Co.	658	577	66	15
Hays Co.	4,807	4,099	618	80	8
Travis Co.	38,547	32,415	5,073	944	154
Williamson Co.	12,467	10,621	1,556	258	38

BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS BY EMPLOYMENT-SIZE CLASS, AUSTIN MSA
	TOTAL	EMPLOYMENT-SIZE CLASS
		1-19	20-99	100-499	500+
2015	48,893	41,321	6,357	1,093	122
2016	50,759	42,850	6,592	1,190	127
2017	52,858	44,620	6,903	1,204	131
2018	54,446	45,970	7,093	1,235	148
2019	56,137	47,483	7,232	1,274	148
2020	57,973	49,052	7,446	1,314	200

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns.

Announced Relocations & Expansions

The Austin area was named the “Most Business-Friendly U.S. City” by the Kauffman Foundation in 2013. Austin places at or near the top of fDi Intelligence’s annual “American Cities of the Future” rankings, as well as Area Development’s “Leading Locations.” Forbes calls Austin “America’s No. 1 Boom Town.” These evaluations are made based on performance and on the criteria that business uses for making location decisions—like workforce quality, capacity for innovation, low cost of doing business, and the quality of life that Central Texas affords.

RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS TO EITHER LOCATE SIGNIFICANT NEW FACILITIES OR EXPAND EXISTING OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BY:
Amazon Ametrine Arrive Logistics BAE Systems The Boring Company Cangshan Cutlery CelLink Charles Schwab CloudFlare Curative DJO Surgical F45 Training Facebook Fincons Group Firefly Aerospace	Flex GetSales Hippo Financial Hyliion Magnitude Markaaz Oracle Ovivo Peak6 Pimco Plastikon Q2 R3E Realtor.com Rev	Saleen Performance Parts Samsung Shop LC Simwon America Corp. Stamps.com Tata Consultancy Services Tesla Thermo Fisher Scientific TikTok U.S. Army Futures Command US Farathane Wayfair Whole Foods Wise The Zebra

CONSTRUCTION COST INDEX, 2019
	RESIDENTIAL	COMMERCIAL
Atlanta	88	89
Austin	79	83
Boston	118	114
Chicago	125	121
Dallas	83	86
Denver	89	90
New York	139	132
Phoenix	87	88
Raleigh	93	84
Salt Lake City	85	90
San Francisco	132	129
Seattle	105	107
United States	100	100

Source: R.S. Means.

RESIDENTIAL PERMITS BY COUNTY, 2018
	TOTAL	SINGLE-FAMILY UNITS	MULTI-FAMILY UNITS
Austin MSA	30,035	17,030	13,005
Bastrop County	156	150	6
Caldwell County	478	270	208
Hays County	2,890	2,890	–
Travis County	19,520	8,978	10,542
Williamson County	6,991	4,742	2,249

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Note: Additional residential permits data is available via the Chamber’s Economic Indicators page.

RETAIL SECTOR, AUSTIN MSA
	ESTABLISHMENTS	SALES (MILLIONS)
2010	16,499	$23,565
2015	19,969	$33,547
2020	24,174	$37,722

RETAIL SECTOR BY COUNTY, 2020
	ESTABLISHMENTS	SALES (MILLIONS)
Bastrop County	1,006	$1,414.2
Caldwell County	431	$391.8
Hays County	2,540	$5,134.5
Travis County	13,864	$20,891.1
Williamson County	6,334	$9,890.9

Note: Additional retail sales data is available via the Economic Indicators page.

Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Announced Relocations & Expansions

Residential Building Permits