Austin Real Estate Team

A diversity of business and government helps maintain a balance in the economy of Austin, Texas. Technology, education, government, leisure and hospitality and professional and business services fuel the city's economic engine. The largest segment is government--state, federal and local. The single largest government employer is the University of Texas with more than 14,000 teachers and staff. The largest private employer is Dell Computer which has some 17,000 employees. Other major American companies maintain a presence in the city--IBM, AT&T, 3M Corp, Apple Computer, National Instruments and Advanced Micro Devices--have major facilities in Austin. Manufacturing, much of it high-tech, followed by education and health servies and retailing account for major segments of the economy.

Austin has a metropolitan area that includes Travis County and four surrounding counties. There are more than 805,800 people in the Austin area labor force, and unemployment has been only 4.3%. Dell Computer leads the high technology market segment. Locally-owned businesses, supported by the "Keep Austin Weird" promotion by the Austin Independent Business Alliance, buck the national "big box" trend by huge retailers. It speaks to the eccentricity and cowboy spirit of Austin where boots and ponytails are as de riguer in business as blue pin-striped suits, buttoned-down shirt collars and Hermes ties.