Austin Ranked No. 1 for Talent Attraction

Austin is leading the nation in attracting and developing talent, outperforming other major metros like Dallas, Raleigh, and Phoenix.

According to Lightcast's newly released 2026 Talent Attraction Scorecard, the Austin metro ranks No. 1 among America's large metropolitan areas for workforce growth and talent attraction.

The numbers:

• No. 1 nationally among large metros for talent attraction
• Top 5 in five of seven workforce growth and attraction metrics
• Top 15 for both blue-collar job growth and attraction of working-age adults

The study analyzed employment growth, high-paying jobs, college-educated workers, skilled trades, and migration patterns using data from 2019 to 2025. What makes Austin stand out is its ability to attract both highly educated professionals and skilled-trade workers, a combination that supports everything from software startups to advanced manufacturing.