Technology Jobs Make Austin the New Silicon Valley

I relocated to Austin from Boston ten years ago last month. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a Bostonian at heart and always will be I’m sure.  However, in 2003 I felt the need to leave the snow, find a friendly sunny place, and expand EDI Specialists’ services in the south/southwest.  Texas seemed like it was rapidly growing in the job market and I noticed quickly that Texans like to do business with other Texans.  As a result, it seemed like a logical business move to become a resident of the Lone Star State, however, I’m told I can never be a true Texan due to not being born here.

So there I was 10 years ago—a newcomer to Austin, pronouncing my “R’s” all of a sudden—and trying to build some new client relationships in Texas.  What I found quickly was that most of the technology jobs were in Houston or Dallas.

As time went on, I fell in love with this area, everything about it, except the heat in the summer.  I think the joke is:  Yes, we have four seasons here in Austin: summer, summer, summer and winter.  In Austin, there are so many friendly and laid back people, outstanding food, phenomenal music, beautiful lakes, and very affordable real estate.

Apparently, the word about how great Austin is spread across the country.  I’ve watched this area of Round Rock go from back county/farm roads, fields, and cows to huge residential and commercial developments, toll roads, highway expansions, etc.  It was constantly in growth mode.  At first it worried me, but then I saw the tech industry growing here as well.  You still have Dell as one of the prime employers, as well as city/state and University jobs in abundance.  However, in the last couple of years, technology jobs have grown exponentially.  This is the reason why Austin is now commonly referred to as “Silicon Hills”.   Austin is now home to many large companies that often hire technology professionals, including:

• 3M
• Apple Inc.
• Hewlett-Packard
• Google
• Facebook
• AMD
• Applied Materials
• Cirrus Logic
• Cisco Systems
• eBay/PayPal
• Bioware
• Blizzard Entertainment
• Hoover’s
• Intel Corporation
• National Instruments
• Samsung Group
• Silicon Laboratories
• Oracle Corporation
• Hostgator
• United Devices

According to Dice.com, Austin now ranks as the number three city for growth in technology jobs.  According to this report, in 2013, technology jobs advertised have grown more than 16 percent compared to 2012. It’s an exciting time in this city.  While real estate stays affordable, the average income stays above average.  It’s no wonder why Austin is commonly ranked in the top five places to live in America.

So if you’re in between jobs, looking for a new opportunity, or maybe just looking to leave the snow like I did a decade ago, consider Austin, as the city continues to offer new technology opportunities. Don’t be shy in contacting me if you need help finding a new position, and keep in mind that the first brisket plate is on me if you move to this great city for a new job.  As you may have heard before, the motto here is “Keep Austin Weird.” But it’s my job to “Keep Austin Employed,” and that’s what I plan to do.