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Key Industries:
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Population
- Between 2003 and 2013, the West Region’s population grew 16%, which is slightly lower than the state growth of 20% but greater than the national growth of 9%.
Economy
- From 2003 to 2013, the per capita persona income growth in the region was 97%, which is significantly greater than the Texas average of 46% and the U.S. average of 37%
- Personal income grew from $14.2 billion in 2003 to $32.5 billion in 2013, which makes the region’s total personal income greater than those of Vermont and Wyoming.
- Personal income in the West Region increased by 129% from 2003 to 2013
- Job growth in the region was 30.9%, which is higher than the Texas average of 19.6% and significantly greater than the U.S. average of 4.7%
- The region added more than 67,249 jobs from 2003 to 2013
- The 2013 regional average wages of $51,185 were high than the state average of $50,572
Military Installations
- Goodfellow Air Force Base
Challenge: Economic Vulnerability
The West Region’s reliance on oil and gas jobs is unparalleled. The oil and gas industry account for up to 90% of the region’s county tax base and the mining sector accounts for over 15% of the region’s jobs, which is well over the state average of 2.6%.
Employs in the oil and gas industry contribute an around 4.6 times more toward gross state product than average Texas workers, which is why these workers earn strong wages.
Unfortunately, the West Region’s economy is extremely vulnerable due to industry activity that relies heavily on volatile crude oil prices.
Fun Facts
- Midland/Odessa has been home to: 2 Presidents, 2 First Ladies, 1 Texas Speaker of the House, and 3 Texas Railroad Commissioners
- The West Region covers 39,731 square miles, making it the largest of the state’s economic regions
- San Angelo’s International Water lily Collection houses 90% of the world’s known wild species and more than 4,000 hybrids
- Midland has the nation’s first commercial service airport also licensed as a commercial spaceport