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Pay Equity | November 13, 2024

Texas-Sized Opportunities: Why Employers and Job Seekers are Flocking to Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) is a destination for job seekers across the United States, and we see this in LaborIQ’s platform activity. The area is one of the most searched for metros by our users. It is the fourth largest metro in the country and among the fastest growing.  

Why? Thanks to its diverse economy and economic resilience, thriving real estate market, corporate relocations, and more. Let’s take a deeper look.  

  

Robust Job Growth: A Leading Indicator of Opportunity 

Jobs are abundant in Dallas. DFW’s job market is one of the fastest growing in the nation, and has outpaced the national average for four years. By August 2024, it added 58,700 new jobs year-over-year, a 1.4% increase. [Bureau of Labor Statistics] 

LaborIQ data confirms similar patterns. DFW outperformed national job growth rates since 2021. In that year, Dallas saw a remarkable 6.6% job growth, two points higher than the national average of 4.5%. Even as growth rates normalized post-pandemic, DFW continued to lead with a 5.3% increase in 2022, compared to the national average of 3.3%. Dallas still outpaced the national rate in 2023, 2024 looks to be equal, and we forecast that in 2025 it will nearly double the national rate of 1.1%.  

Job Growth  2021  2022  2023  2024  2025 
Dallas  6.60%  5.3%  2.3%  1.3%  2.1% 
National  4.50%  3.30%  1.90%  1.30%  1.10% 

 

Job growth in DFW is spread across industries, from education and health services to financial activities and manufacturing. This diversification may be why we see such consistent growth, as it reduces the risk of economic downturns affecting the area disproportionately. Moreover, the steady rise in employment opportunities reflects a healthy economy that attracts both fresh graduates and experienced professionals. 

Migration

Some of the most compelling evidence of Dallas-Fort Worth’s rising prominence in the job market is the significant migration patterns favoring Texas. The Lone Star State has consistently ranked among the top states attracting movers from across the U.S. 

In 2024, Texas saw a net state to state migration gain of 133,372 people, with 611,942 individuals moving into the state compared to 478,570 leaving (U.S. Census Bureau). A 28% positive difference. 

Texas’s migration numbers outshine many other states, with significant inflows from states like California, Illinois, and New York, which have experienced net out-migration.  

  Moved into state  Moved out of state  Difference  % 
North Dakota  34,415  20,814  13,601  65% 
South Carolina  203,674  135,007  68,667  51% 
North Carolina  339,255  232,663  106,592  46% 
Maine  38,089  27,227  10,862  40% 
Vermont  26,743  19,151  7,592  40% 
Delaware  39,006  29,121  9,885  34% 
Arizona  256,203  193,670  62,533  32% 
Texas  611,942  478,570  133,372  28% 
Oklahoma  107,679  84,309  23,370  28% 
Idaho  81,708  64,970  16,738  26% 
Florida  636,933  510,925  126,008  25% 
Indiana  150,649  120,876  29,773  25% 
Georgia  310,452  250,484  59,968  24% 
Alabama  119,421  99,663  19,758  20% 
Nevada  122,219  104,444  17,775  17% 
Arkansas  73,123  63,179  9,944  16% 
Kentucky  106,797  92,582  14,215  15% 
Wisconsin  114,938  100,085  14,853  15% 
Tennessee  203,156  180,407  22,749  13% 
Colorado  232,663  211,370  21,293  10% 
Virginia  276,161  253,240  22,921  9% 
Missouri  143,688  135,597  8,091  6% 
Mississippi  64,610  61,833  2,777  4% 
Connecticut  94,990  91,384  3,606  4% 
West Virginia  42,020  41,042  978  2% 
South Dakota  30,055  29,464  591  2% 
Hawaii  58,539  58,078  461  1% 
Rhode Island  31,599  31,416  183  1% 
Ohio  185,341  184,281  1,060  1% 
Wyoming  22,957  22,875  82  0% 
Montana  36,775  36,822  -47  0% 
Nebraska  48,590  48,659  -69  0% 
New Mexico  64,673  64,917  -244  0% 
Washington  212,616  215,277  -2,661  -1% 
Iowa  73,176  75,032  -1,856  -2% 
Utah  90,865  94,351  -3,486  -4% 
Oregon  125,246  131,403  -6,157  -5% 
Minnesota  100,277  108,966  -8,689  -8% 
District of Columbia   56,860  64,336  -7,476  -12% 
Pennsylvania  237,526  272,461  -34,935  -13% 
Michigan  135,115  155,530  -20,415  -13% 
Alaska  30,676  35,800  -5,124  -14% 
New Hampshire  39,695  46,753  -7,058  -15% 
Kansas  77,138  92,713  -15,575  -17% 
Maryland  162,674  198,764  -36,090  -18% 
Massachusetts  145,021  184,534  -39,513  -21% 
New Jersey  156,335  225,514  -69,179  -31% 
Louisiana  69,464  101,180  -31,716  -31% 
Illinois  203,758  297,005  -93,247  -31% 
New York  302,835  481,544  -178,709  -37% 
California  422,075  690,127  -268,052  -39% 
https://www.census.gov/topics/population/migration/guidance/migration-flows.html 

Texas’s favorable tax environment, including no state income tax, makes it an attractive destination for individuals seeking to maximize their income. The state also offers a relatively lower cost of living compared to other major metro areas like New York and San Francisco. 

 

Economic Growth and Expansion 

With job growth rates and migration high, it’s not a surprise that the health of the overall local economy follows. GDP growth in Dallas has outpaced the national average, and we project this will continue in 2025 

GDP Growth  2021  2022  2023  2024  2025 
Dallas  7.90%  5.70%  4.70%  4.00%  3.90% 
National  5.40%  0.70%  3.10%  1.80%  1.70% 

  

Other Factors – Leading and Lagging Indicators 

DFW’s booming real estate market provides more compelling evidence of its popularity among job seekers. A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute ranked DFW as the top U.S. metro for real estate investment and development in 2025 ([New York Post](https://nypost.com/2024/11/01/real-estate/dallas-fort-worth-named-best-spot-for-us-real-estate-investment)).    

Corporations are pushing the job market growth as well. The region’s business-friendly environment, characterized by favorable tax policies, strategic location, and a skilled workforce, has attracted numerous corporate relocations. Financial giants like Charles Schwab, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Wells Fargo established significant operations in the metroplex, contributing to its emergence as a burgeoning financial hub ([Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/finance/welcome-to-yall-street-texas-burgeoning-financial-hub-29b712f4)). 

  

It is easy to see why searches in LaborIQ focus on roles in Dallas. The Dallas-Fort Worth area stands out as a prime location for job seekers due to its dynamic job market, economic resilience, corporate influx, and more. As more professionals recognize these advantages, DFW’s status as a job market hotspot is set to grow even further. It has become a great option for job seekers and employers alike.

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