Opportunity Austin Report Connects Austin’s Job Growth to Regional Talent Pipeline

AUSTIN, TEXAS – August 27, 2026 — The Austin region’s continued ability to attract and grow companies depends on more than creating jobs, it depends on having the talent to fill them. As students return to school across Central Texas, Opportunity Austin is releasing the Austin Regional Talent Pipeline Report, providing employers with the first five-county regional view of how education and workforce partners are aligning talent production with the industries and occupations driving Austin’s next phase of growth.

The report provides a view of talent production and workforce demand across the top four in demand industries: healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure and mobility. The analysis examines education and training pathways across the five-county MSA while connecting them to the broader talent base of more than 400,000 postsecondary students within a 100-mile radius of Austin.

Developed in partnership with the Capital Area Workforce Development Board, Rural Capital Area Workforce Development Board, Austin Community College, Texas State Technical College, Texas State University, and The University of Texas at Austin, the report gives employers and workforce partners a clearer picture of where talent is being produced, where demand is growing, and how education and industry are working together to prepare the next generation of workers.

The report comes as students and families return from summer break and make decisions about courses, certifications, and dual-credit opportunities. As employers across the Austin region continue to drive demand for skilled talent, the need for career and technical education pathways, postsecondary programs, and hands-on learning opportunities outside the traditional classroom remains clear.

The Austin region ranked as the #1 large metro in the U.S. for job growth in 2025, while major investments are continuing to reshape the region’s economy and infrastructure. Approximately $25 billion in infrastructure investments are underway, including major I-35 reconstruction, airport expansion, and other mobility projects.

Infrastructure and mobility are expected to generate the region’s largest workforce demand through 2031, while information technology continues to expand with nearly 40% of projected openings coming from newly created jobs rather than replacement positions.

At the same time, the region’s postsecondary talent pipeline is growing. Over the past five years, college enrollment has increased by approximately 25%, while completions have grown by more than 30%. The report also finds strong alignment between many high-demand occupations and education and training pathways available throughout the region.

For students, that alignment can translate into meaningful career opportunities. Many of the region’s highest-demand occupations offer wages above the regional living wage once workers obtain the credentials or degrees required for those positions.

The report demonstrates that the Austin region’s workforce strategy is not solely about producing more graduates—it is increasingly about connecting education and training directly to the needs of employers.

Across the region, employers and education partners are working together through apprenticeships, dual-credit programs, specialized academies, industry-informed curriculum, and customized training initiatives. These partnerships are helping create pathways into high-demand careers while giving businesses a stronger connection to the talent being developed in the region.

“Austin’s challenge is no longer simply attracting companies—it is ensuring our talent pipelines can scale with the growth we are experiencing,” said Susan Davenport, President & CEO of Opportunity Austin. “This report gives employers a clearer view of the talent being developed across our region and provides students, educators, and workforce partners with a better understanding of where the opportunities are.”