Dynamic Economic Landscape
Welcome to West, Texas, a vibrant community rooted in tradition and poised for growth. As we look to foster a thriving economic environment, our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and workforce development is at the forefront of our mission.
West, situated within the thriving Central Texas region, has experienced remarkable growth, with a population increase of 24% from 2011 to 2021 and a regional GDP surge of 57% in the same period. This impressive growth reflects our commitment to building a strong economic foundation and supporting diverse industries that contribute to our community’s prosperity.
Strength in Key Sectors
West is strategically positioned to capitalize on its strengths in tech-enabled industries. With significant concentrations in computers, electronics, and information technology, our community is well-equipped to support high-tech sectors. The top industry clusters in Central Texas, including Computers and Electronics Manufacturing and Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, demonstrate the region’s robust tech landscape, giving West the opportunity to leverage these industries for local development. Furthermore, sectors such as AgTech and biopharmaceuticals are positioned for growth. With a substantial workforce engaged in agriculture (over 175,000 employees in AgTech alone), West can build on its agricultural roots while diversifying into high-value industries, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience.
Workforce and Education
Our dedicated workforce is vital to West’s economic success. According to regional data, there is a notable concentration of computer occupations, with a location quotient (LQ) of 1.49, reflecting our community’s capacity to support advanced industries. We are committed to enhancing workforce development efforts by collaborating with local educational institutions to equip our residents with the skills needed in high-demand fields such as technology and healthcare. The presence of a strong talent pipeline is evident in the impressive employment growth of key occupations, including Material Moving Workers (61% growth from 2018 to 2021) and Business Operations Specialists (39% growth). By investing in education and skill development, we can ensure that our workforce remains competitive and ready to meet the demands of evolving industries.
WORKFORCE
Many times the difference between a successful business and one that lags behind is finding and employing a Skilled Workforce. Our local and state governments are committed to building the Texas economy and understand that the best way to do that is to support the employers who keep Texans working! Texas remains a right-to- work state with no personal or corporate income tax. Texas also invests in training the workforce so that Texans continue to have the skills necessary to compete in a global economy.
With excellent access to multiple US and State Highways, West’s labor force extends beyond a 30-mile radius. West employers have been successful in satisfying their workforce needs across a diverse industry base that includes manufacturing, distribution, customer service, administration, and miscellaneous services. The 30-mile radius represents over 90,000 skilled workers. West and McLennan County offers quality of living and a central location in Texas, so it is highly attractive to potential employees and a factor in retaining your key personnel.
Texas Workforce Commission, Heart of Texas Workforce, and the Skills Development Fund support businesses by partnering with your organization to further develop training programs to:
• Identify training needs and then partner with a public community or technical college to fill specific needs.
•The Skills Development Fund pays for the training, the college administers the grant, and businesses create new jobs and improve the skills of their current workers.
• Texas Workforce Commission provides access to a team of highly skilled professionals who provide technical assistance, at no charge, to help streamline the development of projects and proposals.
Useful Links:
Texas Workforce Commission
Heart of Texas Workforce
Skills Development Fund
Access the comprehensive economic impact report and full statistical data at the following link: West, TX Community Profile
Access to regional information at the following link: Central Texas Profile
