Not only is Austin an exciting place to live, play and have fun, but it is also a great place to work and do business. Many companies prefer Austin to places like New York City or Los Angeles because of the low cost of living, rapidly developing real estate market and well-educated and diverse workforce. Austin's labor pool is considered to be some of the most energetic, innovative, and educated in the entire country, which consistently attracts new employers looking for a new home or an expansion site.

Austin has a very favorable business climate based on its low state and local tax burdens and competitive regulatory environment.  This, along with the available workforce talent attracts CEOs, entrepreneurs,  and researchers.

Forbes' annual survey of Best Places for Business and Careers ranks Austin third, for the third year in a row. Also, in another survey by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group of the "best tech towns" in the country, Austin beat strong tech centers of San Jose, San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Boston.

The Austin economy is supported by three main sectors: higher education, government, and the high-tech industry.

Map of Austin Area Top Employers

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

Located in the very heart of Austin, the University of Texas is a major presence throughout the region.
Its presence contributes to the economic, political, intellectual, and the artistic development of the area and helps supply the area with an energy and atmosphere that makes Austin a great place to live.
It encompasses over 357 acres, has about 50,000 students. It is the largest employer in Austin, creating more than 80,000 jobs and more than $2 billion in personal income and is also one of the largest in the entire state.

The campus has towering trees, fountains by world renown artists, sculptures, and many interesting architectural designs. The 27 story University of Texas Tower stands high in the Austin landscape.

U.T.'s mission is to improve the quality of life for the people of Texas, the nation, and the world. For a public university, its education and research, its diversity and depth, is some of the highest in the nation.

"Hook 'em horns" is an enduring symbol of the spirit of Texas. 










HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY

Austin has the nickname "Silicon Hills of the Southwest."

DELL, IBM Corporation, National Instruments, Motorola, Freescale Semiconductor, AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), and Google (new in 2008) are some of the major companies in the technology industry. Major industry sectors are computers and peripherals, film, digital entertainment, multimedia, semiconductors, software, and telecommunications.

Technology innovations from Austin's high-tech industry makes cars run smarter, computers run faster, cell phones more efficient, and telecommunications on the edge.

GOVERNMENT


As the state capital, the city is headquarters for the legislature, high courts, and many state agencies.
The State of Texas employs approximately 50,000 people in the Austin area. Although the Texas legislature convenes in January in odd-numbered years for a 120 day regular session, Austin is a strong political city year-round with agencies, judges, and state bureaucrats who make their home here.
Hotels and restaurants in the downtown area are often scenes of political meetings and conversations.


















OTHER MAJOR INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS

The strong music industry, the vibrant film scene, and the growing multi-media sector have helped with the diversity of the Austin economy, insuring its future strength and growth.

Williamson County, just north of Austin, is the 12th fastest growing county in the nation and is experiencing the fastest growth rate in the region.

Seton’s new 451,000 sq. ft. Children’s Hospital is scheduled for completion in Spring of 2007. It will be located in the former site of the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport at anestimated cost of $175 million.

Whole Foods Market expanded its headquarters and opened its new 80,000 square feet flagship supermarket in downtown Austin in 2005.

ACC is scheduled to open its newest South Austin branch location in the Fall of 2006.

IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishing retailer, opened a 252,000 sq. ft. store just north of Austin in Round Rock.

TOP 25 LARGEST EMPLOYERS OF AUSTIN
(Source: Austin Chamber of Commerce)

1. The State of Texas 
    512-463-2000 
    
2. Dell, Inc.  
   One Dell Way 
   Round Rock, Texas 78682 
   512-728-4100 
  
3. The University of Texas at Austin  
   1 University Station 
   Austin, Texas 78712 
   512-475-7348 
  
4. Austin Independent School District 
   1111 W. 6th Street 
   Austin, Texas 78703 
   512-414-1700 
  
5. U.S. Government

6. City of Austin  
   P.O. Box 1088 
   Austin, Texas 78701 
   512-974-7870 
  
7. Seton Healthcare Network 
   1201 West 38th Street 
   Austin, Texas 78705 
   512-324-1776 
  
8. IBM Corporation (Austin Research Laboratory) 
   11501 Burnet Road, MS/9460 
   Austin, Texas 78758 
   512-823-7876 
  
9. St. David's Healthcare  
   98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 1800 
   Austin, Texas 78701 
   512-708-9700 
  
10.Freescale Semiconductor (formerly Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector)  
   6501 William Cannon Drive 
   Austin, Texas 78735 
   512-895-2000 
  
11. U.S. Internal Revenue Service 
   3651 S. IH-35 
   Austin, Texas 73301 
   512-499-5315 
  
12. Round Rock Independent School District 
   1311 Round Rock Avenue 
   Round Rock, Texas 78681 
   512-464-5000 
  
13. Travis County 
   314 West 11th Street 
   Austin, Texas 78701 
   512-854-9000 
  
14. Austin Community College 
   5930 Middle Fiskville Road 
   Austin, Texas 78752 
   512-223-7000 
  
15. Solectron Texas 
   12455 Research Blvd. 
   Austin, Texas 7879 
   512-425-4100 
  
16. Leander Independent School District 
   204 W. South Street 
   Leander, Texas 78641 
   512-434-5009 
  
17. Brackenridge Hospital/Children's Hospital  
   601 East 15th Street 
   Austin, Texas 78701 
   512-374-7000 
  
18. Applied Materials  
   9700 Hwy 290 East 
   Austin, Texas 78724 
   512-272-1000 
  
19. AT&T Communications (formerly SBC Labs, Inc.)  
   1616 Guadalupe Street 
   Austin, Texas 78701 
   512-870-2065 
  
20. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)  
   5204 E. Ben White Blvd. 
   Austin, Texas 78741 
   512-602-1000 
  
21. Seton Medical Center
   1201 West 38th Street 
   Austin, Texas 78705 
   512-324-1000 
  
22. National Instruments  
   11500 N. Mopac 
   Austin, Texas 78759 
   512-683-0100 
  
23. Texas State University - San Marcos 
   601 University Drive 
   San Marcos, Texas 78666 
   512-245-5111 
  
24. Girling Health Care  
   4902 Grover Avenue 
   Austin, Texas 78756 
   512-342-0331 
  
25. Pflugerville Independent School District  
   140 Pecan Street 
   Pflugerville, Texas 78660 
   512-594-0000 
  
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS

Greater Austin Chamber
210 Barton Springs Rd. Ste. 400
478.9383 

Austin Technology Incubator
3925 W. Braker Ln. Ste. 400
305.0000

Better Business Bureau
2101 I-35 S. Ste. 302
445.2911

Business Invest in Growth
1050 East 11th Street, Suite 350
928.8010

Business Solutions Center
One Texas Center - 505 Barton Springs Rd.
974.7800

Texas Economic Development & Tourism
(Office of the Governor)
463.2000


CITY HUMAN RESOURCES


Austin
974.3210

City of Round Rock Human Resources
218.5490

Travis County Human Resources
854.9165

University of Texas Employment Center
471-3656

Williamson County
943-1100