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.
