Austin Area Economic Summary
Updated June 28, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the Austin area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Austin area, 4th quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,067; Area = $1,158)
Unemployment rates
4.5
United States
4.1
2.9
Austin area
3.2
3.3
Bastrop Co.
3.5
3.0
Hays Co.
3.3
2.8
Travis Co.
3.1
3.0
Williamson Co.
0.0
3.3
2.0
4.0
May-16
6.0
May-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
Percent
12-month percent changes in employment
Austin area employment
(numbers in thousands)
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
Austin area
0.0
May-14
May-15
United States
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
May-17
Total nonfarm
Mining, logging, and construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Change from May
May 2017
1,026.9
61.3
57.4
171.5
27.7
57.8
171.9
122.1
127.2
45.6
184.4
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
• www.bls.gov/ro6
2016 to May 2017
Number
Percent
28.3
3.0
1.8
2.4
-0.7
1.6
3.9
6.4
4.5
1.9
3.5
2.8
5.1
3.2
1.4
-2.5
2.8
2.3
5.5
3.7
4.3
1.9
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, May 2017
6.0
Percent
4.0
5.4
South region
U.S. city average
1.7
2.0
0.0
1.9
0.7
0.0
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Computer & electronic product mfg
4.7
4.0
2.0
12-month percent changes in PPI
All Items
0.9
-2.0
Food
Energy
-4.0
May-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
South Region average annual expenditures 2015
May-15
Housing
$16,518
31.8%
Healthcare
$4,264
8.2%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$5,608
10.8%
Food
$6,613
12.7%
Transportation
$9,598
18.5%
Total:
$52,020
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Private industry, March 2017
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
West South
Central (1)
$30.07
21.60
8.47
1.92
0.96
1.05
2.10
1.10
2.31
(1) West South Central includes AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$33.11
23.06
10.06
2.30
1.18
1.17
2.65
1.34
2.60
May-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$9,419
18.1%
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
Austin
area
United
States
Total, all occupations
$24.44
$23.86
Dentists, general
69.99
83.59
Human resources managers
63.88
57.79
Computer hardware engineers
61.57
57.07
Computer systems analysts
42.18
44.05
Accountants and auditors
34.40
36.89
Registered nurses
32.24
34.70
Librarians
30.52
28.78
Customer service representatives
15.67
16.91
Construction laborers
13.92
18.22
Retail salespersons
13.44
13.07
Team assemblers
11.62
15.65
Cooks, fast food
9.43
9.89
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
3.0
12-month percent changes in ECI
2.0
1.0
0.0
West South Central
-1.0
Mar-14
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Southwest Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest • 972-850-4800
United States
Mar-16
Mar-17