This analysis predates the COVID-19 crisis and the economic impacts that followed. It is offered as an overview of the Alamo regional economy and a resource for comparative purposes.
The 19-county Alamo region covers about 18,000 square miles in south central Texas, stretching from Fredericksburg and Kerrville in the Hill Country to Port Lavaca on the Gulf Coast.
The Alamo region includes two metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs): the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA, which includes Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties, and the Victoria MSA, which includes Calhoun, Goliad and Victoria counties. Counties in the region not associated with an MSA include Dewitt, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Jackson, Karnes, Kerr and Lavaca counties.
This report examines regional economic trends including population, household income, jobs and wages, and education, as well as economic conditions unique to the Alamo region.
Population
The Alamo region’s estimated total population in 2019 was about 2.9 million, or about 10 percent of the state’s total population. This represented an increase of more than 17.5 percent (about 425,000 people) since the 2010 Census. An estimated 70 percent of the region’s population is concentrated in Bexar County. The San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA accounted for 89 percent of the region’s population and 8.7 percent of the state’s.
From 2010 to 2019, the region’s population grew at a slightly faster pace than the state’s (Exhibit 1). While the population of each county in the region increased during this period, Kendall and Comal outpaced all others, growing by 42 percent and 44 percent, respectively — nearly three times the state rate.
Exhibit 1
Alamo Region Population by County,
2010 and 2019
County
2010 Census
Estimate
(as of July 2019)
Change 2010 to 2019
Percent Change
Atascosa
44,911
51,153
6,242
13.9%
Bandera
20,485
23,112
2,627
12.8%
Bexar
1,714,773
2,003,554
288,781
16.8%
Calhoun
21,381
21,290
-91
-0.4%
Comal
108,472
156,209
47,737
44.0%
DeWitt
20,097
20,160
63
0.3%
Frio
17,217
20,306
3,089
17.9%
Gillespie
24,837
26,988
2,151
8.7%
Goliad
7,210
7,658
448
6.2%
Gonzales
19,807
20,837
1,030
5.2%
Guadalupe
131,533
166,847
35,314
26.8%
Jackson
14,075
14,760
685
4.9%
Karnes
14,824
15,601
777
5.2%
Kendall
33,410
47,431
14,021
42.0%
Kerr
49,625
52,600
2,975
6.0%
Lavaca
19,263
20,154
891
4.6%
Medina
46,006
51,584
5,578
12.1%
Victoria
86,793
92,084
5,291
6.1%
Wilson
42,918
51,070
8,152
19.0%
San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA
2,142,508
2,550,960
408,452
19.1%
Alamo Region Total
2,437,637
2,863,398
425,761
17.5%
Texas Total
25,145,561
28,995,881
3,850,320
15.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Population Composition
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey, the Alamo region’s counties had slightly older median ages than the state. 14 of the region’s 19 counties had a median age significantly higher than the state’s median of 34.2 years, with Bandera County residents having a median age exceeding 51 years, higher than any other county in the region and one of the highest in the state. The San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA had a median age on par with the state.
In 2018, 53 percent of the Alamo region’s total population was Hispanic, much higher than the state’s 38.6 percent Hispanic share (Exhibit 2).
Household Income
The Alamo region’s household income was $58,087 in 2018. Texas’ household income is generally distributed among five income levels (Exhibit 3). Of more than 9 million Texas households, 21 percent had incomes less than $25,000 in 2018, while 17 percent had incomes greater than $125,000. In every region in the state, nearly 18 percent of households had average incomes between $50,000 and $75,000.
Exhibit 2
Alamo Region Population by Race and Ethnicity, 2018
Ethnicity
Alamo Region
State Total
Hispanic
53.0%
38.6%
Black (not Hispanic)
6.1%
11.6%
White (not Hispanic)
36.9%
43.4%
Other
4.0%
6.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Exhibit 3
Alamo Region and Texas Household Income Percentile, 2018
Income Level
Alamo Region
State Total
less than $25,000
21.1%
21.1%
$25,000 to $50,000
23.4%
23.0%
$50,000 to $75,000
18.8%
17.9%
$75,000 to $125,000
21.3%
20.6%
more than $125,000
15.4%
17.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Regional Industries
In 2019, the Alamo region accounted for about 9.2 percent of the state’s total employment. Exhibit 4 lists the industries with the greatest regional employment concentrations compared to the national average, as measured by location quotient (LQ). LQ represents an industry’s proportionate concentration in the region; an LQ greater than 1.0 means that industry employment is more concentrated in the region than nationally. A high LQ can identify industries that have a competitive advantage in the region, such as the ability to produce products more efficiently and of a higher quality.
Based on location quotients, the Alamo region is a leader in pipeline transportation; support activities for mining; and national security and international affairs.
Exhibit 4
Top 10 Alamo Texas Region Industries, 2019
Industry
LQ
Number Employed
Average Annual Wages
Pipeline Transportation
5.05
2,054
$135,390
Support Activities for Mining
4.58
12,587
$82,707
National Security and International Affairs
3.29
15,372
$83,085
Oil and Gas Extraction
2.89
3,330
$203,536
Fishing, Hunting and Trapping
2.47
170
$40,468
Data Processing, Hosting and Related Services
2.33
6,405
$80,448
Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
1.77
387
$32,911
Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
1.72
32,929
$91,653
Rental and Leasing Services
1.62
7,426
$57,944
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
1.58
15,577
$61,295
Total - All Industries
0.99
1,154,772
$51,098
Note: Data are as of Q4 2019 except wage data, which are for covered employment in 2018.
Sources: JobsEQ and Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Military Installation Impact
Texas has 14 U.S. military installations within its borders. In 2019, these bases directly employed more than 226,000 and supported nearly 634,000 jobs in all. In all, military installations in Texas contributed an estimated $75.3 billion annually to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). The military installations within the Alamo region – Joint Base San Antonio, which includes Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base – had a major impact on the Texas economy, supporting an estimated 211,000 jobs and contributing nearly $25.2 billion to the state’s GDP in 2019 (Exhibit 5).
Exhibit 5
U.S. Military Impact on Alamo Region Estimated 2019
Region
Total Jobs Supported
Contribution to State GDP
Alamo
210,998
$25.2 billion
State of Texas
633,892
$75.3 billion
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Military Preparedness Commission and REMI
The Alamo region’s employment rose by more than 23 percent from 2009 to 2019, slightly higher than the state’s. More than 89 percent of the region’s total jobs were in the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA, where employment rose by more than 24 percent during the same period (Exhibit 6).
Exhibit 6
Alamo Region Employment Trends, 2019
Area
Number of Jobs (2019)
Actual Change (2009 to 2019)
Percent Change (2009 to 2019)
San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA
1,026,355
200,811
24.3%
Alamo Region
1,151,209
218,019
23.4%
Texas
12,531,100
2,284,407
22.3%
United States
147,886,638
17,768,373
13.7%
Note: Figures include private- and public-sector employees with the exception of active-duty military personnel, railroad employees, religious institution employees and the self-employed.
Sources: JobsEQ and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Significant Regional Occupations
The Alamo region’s most significant occupations are shown in Exhibits 7 and 8, first by location quotient and second by numeric growth in the last five years.
Exhibit 7
Top Occupations in the Alamo Region by Location Quotient, 2014 to 2019
Occupation
Number Employed
Average Annual Wages
LQ
Unemployment Rate
Five-Year Employment Change
Extraction Workers
6,003
$42,300
3.33
4.5%
235
Plant and System Operators
3,495
$54,600
1.41
0.6%
442
Fishing and Hunting Workers
239
$15,100
1.37
7.1%
21
Helpers, Construction Trades
2,499
$30,800
1.3
7.4%
-114
Supervisors of Construction and Extraction Workers
6,823
$63,000
1.29
2.6%
735
Note: Data are as of Q4 2019 except wage data, which are for covered employment in 2018.
Source: JobsEQ
Exhibit 8
Top Occupations in the Alamo Region by Numeric Growth,
2014 to 2019
Occupation
Number Employed
Average Annual Wages
LQ
Unemployment Rate
Five-Year Employment Change
Food and Beverage Serving Workers
74,566
$21,600
1.22
5.2%
10,509
Other Personal Care and Service Workers
37,291
$21,600
1.07
4.0%
9,662
Construction Trades Workers
50,674
$39,000
1.13
5.0%
6,256
Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners
38,664
$70,500
0.91
2.4%
6,001
Business Operations Specialists
35,092
$29,400
0.87
5.5%
5,861
Note: Data are as of Q4 2019 except wage data, which are for covered employment in 2018.
Source: JobsEQ
Education
A strong educational foundation provides a cornerstone for growth and competitiveness in the global economy, offering opportunities for workplace advancement and business expansion.
Wages by Educational Attainment
Post-secondary education delivers a good return on the investment of time and tuition. In 2018, Alamo region workers with some college or associate degrees and with stable jobs — defined as those employed with the same firm throughout a calendar quarter — earned an average of $5,033 more annually than those with a high school degree, while those with at least a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $21,737 more (Exhibit 9).
Exhibit 9
Average Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment, Alamo Region and Texas, 2018
Educational Attainment
Number Employed, Region
Percent of Region
Average Annual Earnings, Region
Number Employed, Texas
Percent of Texas
Average Annual Earnings, Texas
Less than High School
204,124
18.2%
$41,374
2,065,483
17.1%
$42,808
High School or Equivalent, No College
272,172
24.3%
$46,065
2,765,759
22.9%
$52,035
Some College or Associate Degree
305,963
27.3%
$51,098
3,245,675
26.9%
$60,428
Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Degree
183,292
16.4%
$67,802
2,454,975
20.3%
$95,716
Educational Attainment Unavailable
154,375
13.8%
$23,176
1,544,282
12.8%
$22,087
Total
1,119,925
$47,688
12,076,174
$58,787
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and JobsEQ
The Alamo region’s high school graduation rate has risen significantly since the 2009-10 school year, moving from underperforming to regularly tracking the state’s rate. During the 2017-18 school year, 90.5 percent of the region’s class of public high school senior students graduated, slightly higher than the state’s rate of 90 percent (Exhibit 10).
Exhibit 10
Alamo Region Public High School Graduation Rates,
2009-10 to 2017-18 School Year
Region
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Alamo
81.8%
84.6%
87.2%
87.7%
88.0%
89.3%
89.7%
89.2%
90.5%
Texas
84.3%
85.9%
87.7%
88.0%
88.3%
89.0%
89.1%
89.7%
90.0%
Source: Texas Education Agency
Many high school graduates enroll in post-secondary programs, which offer greater job prospects and the possibility of higher wages. Residents of the Alamo region enjoy a variety of options for higher educational achievement (Exhibit 11).
Exhibit 11 Alamo Region Institutions of Higher Education
Universities
Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio
Schreiner University
St. Mary's University
Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Texas Lutheran University
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Trinity University
University of Houston-Victoria
University of the Incarnate Word
Junior and Community Colleges
Alamo Community College District
Northeast Lakeview College
Northwest Vista College
Palo Alto College
San Antonio College
St. Philip's College
Victoria College
Health Science Schools
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
The Alamo region’s community college districts provided technical and academic coursework for more than 56,000 students in the 2017-18 school year (Exhibit 12).
Exhibit 12
Alamo Region Community Colleges Overview, 2017-18 School Year
*The percentage of academic or technical graduates employed in the fourth quarter of the calendar year after graduation and/or enrolled in a Texas two- or four-year institution in the following fall after graduation, as specified.
Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Community colleges in the Alamo region awarded more than 5,000 certificates and associate degrees in health professions in the 2017-18 school year; the next most common awards were for general studies and liberal arts and personal and culinary services (Exhibit 13).
Exhibit 13
Top 10 Certificates and Associate Degree Awards in the
Alamo Region Community Colleges, 2017-18 School Year
Certificates and Degrees
Number Awarded
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences
5,069
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
5,003
Personal and Culinary Services
1,445
Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services
1,388
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
740
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
714
Engineering Technologies/Technicians
550
Security and Protective Services
543
Education
492
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
393
Source: JobsEQ
Regional Economy
The relative health of the Alamo region’s economy can be measured by its sales tax revenue and comparisons with other states on education, population, per capita income and unemployment rate. Together, these data are good indicators of the region’s economic dynamics and competitiveness.
Sales Tax Revenue
Sales taxes are inherently volatile in the short term but when reviewed over time can provide a useful indication of the state’s economic condition.
Sales receipts subject to state sales tax directly attributed to the Alamo region trended upward in the past decade. The region saw a significant climb in taxable sales following the 2009 recession, and after some leveling off, receipts from 2018 indicated that the upward climb had resumed and continued into 2019 (Exhibit 14). In 2019, taxable sales directly attributed to businesses in the Alamo region exceeded $40.8 billion, contributing more than 7.3 percent to the state’s overall taxable sales. The San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA directly accounted for $36.1 billion of this total.
Exhibit 14
Alamo Region, Taxable Sales, 2007-2019
Year
Revenue Alamo Region
2007
25.8 billion dollars
2008
26.6 billion dollars
2009
24.3 billion dollars
2010
24.8 billion dollars
2011
27.5 billion dollars
2012
30.3 billion dollars
2013
32.3 billion dollars
2014
34.6 billion dollars
2015
36.0 billion dollars
2016
36.0 billion dollars
2017
36.6 billion dollars
2018
39.4 billion dollars
2019
40.8 billion dollars
Note: Numbers shown are for reported revenue subject to sales tax and directly attributed to the region.
Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
In 1997, the U.S., Canada and Mexico jointly released the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which classifies all business enterprises for the purpose of collecting, analyzing and publishing economic statistics. A review of two-digit NAICS codes allows for a broad analysis of industry sectors.
The Alamo region’s retail trade and food services and accommodation sectors contributed most to taxable sales in 2019, together accounting for 58 percent of the region’s taxable sales. Two other industries of note were the wholesale trade and the manufacturing sectors, contributing 14.6 percent of the region’s reported taxable sales.
Alamo Region vs. the U.S.
Exhibit 15 illustrates how the Alamo region compares among other states and the nation on a number of demographic and economic measures. If it were a state, the region would be the 42nd largest state in terms of land area (sized between West Virginia and Maryland) and have the 36th largest population. It had the 15th lowest unemployment rate among states in 2019.
Exhibit 15
Alamo Region Compared to the U.S.
Measure
Alamo Region
Rank if Region
were a State
Texas
State Rank
U.S.
Square Miles
18,016
42
268,597
2
3,531,905
Population, 2019
2,863,398
36
28,995,881
2
328,239,523
Population with at Least a High School Diploma, 2018
84.6%
48
83.2%
49
87.7%
Population with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, 2018
26.7%
41
29.3%
28
31.5%
Population Under 18 Years, 2018
25.0%
4
25.8%
2
22.4%
Population 65 Years and Above, 2018
13.8%
48
12.6%
48
16.0%
Population Percent Change, 2010 to 2019
17.5%
1
15.3%
2
6.3%
Per Capita Income, 2018
$46,988
36
$50,355
26
$54,446
Unemployment Rate, 2019
3.1%
15
3.5%
27
3.7%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The Alamo region is a microcosm of the state, both urban and rural, with a vibrant and diverse economy. Bexar County, with the city of San Antonio at its center, is the region’s economic hub.
The Alamo region and its 19 counties have many unique economic conditions and challenges. It’s more diverse than the state, and most counties in the region have experienced strong growth. Household income was on par with the state in 2018. The majority of the region’s counties, other than of Bexar County, had median ages significantly above the state’s. The region’s high school graduation rate is growing. The federal government, including the military, has a large footprint in the region. Businesses supporting the oil industry are highly concentrated in the region and continue to make the region’s economy robust.
