Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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economy

This analysis predates the COVID-19 crisis and the economic impacts that followed. It is offered as an overview of the Northwest regional economy and a resource for comparative purposes.

Regional Snapshot

Northwest Region


The 30-county Northwest region covers about 27,600 square miles in northern Texas, stretching from Oklahoma on the north to the Colorado River on the south and abutting Big Spring on the west and the Fort Worth area on the east.

The region includes two metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs): the Abilene MSA, comprising Callahan, Jones and Taylor counties, and the Wichita Falls MSA, comprising Archer, Clay and Wichita counties.

Northwest Region Counties:

  • Archer
  • Baylor
  • Brown
  • Callahan
  • Clay
  • Coleman
  • Comanche
  • Cottle
  • Eastland
  • Fisher
  • Foard
  • Hardeman
  • Haskell
  • Jack
  • Jones
  • Kent
  • Knox
  • Mitchell
  • Montague
  • Nolan
  • Runnels
  • Scurry
  • Shackelford
  • Stephens
  • Stonewall
  • Taylor
  • Throckmorton
  • Wichita
  • Wilbarger
  • Young

Top 10 Industries by Location Quotient

  1. Rail Transportation
  2. Support Activities For Mining
  3. Oil and Gas Extraction
  4. Pipeline Transportation
  5. Animal Production
    and Aquaculture
  6. Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
  7. Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
  8. Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works)
  9. Mining (except Oil and Gas)
  10. Justice, Public Order and Safety Activities

Source: JobsEQ®


Population Growth

Northwest REGION VS. TEXAS AND U.S., 2010-2019

Region
0.0%

U.S.
6.3%

Texas
15.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

In 2019, the Northwest region’s estimated total population was about 550,500, or nearly 2 percent of the state’s total population. The region’s population has remained stable since the 2010 Census.

Education

Average Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment, Northwest Region

Average Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment, Northwest Region
Educational Attainment Number Employed, Region Average Annual Earnings, Region
Less than High School 31,068 $35,612
High School or Equivalent, No College 55,171 $39,212
Some College or Associate Degree 58,694 $42,613
Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Degree 33,383 $56,035
Educational Attainment Unavailable 25,530 $21,590
Total 203,847 $41,019

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and JobsEQ

Northwest region workers with some college or associate degrees and stable jobs earned an average of $3,401 more annually than those with a high school degree, while those with at least a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $16,823 more.

JOBS & WAGES

From 2009 to 2019, the Northwest region’s employment increased by more than 2 percent, much lower than the state’s total job growth rate. In 2019, the region accounted for nearly 2 percent of the state’s total employment.

The Northwest region’s most significant occupations are shown below, sorted by numerical growth during the last five years.


Employment Growth, Northwest Region vs. Texas and U.S., 2009 to 2019


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

Top Occupations in the Northwest Region by Numeric Growth, 2014 to 2019

Top Occupations in the Northwest Region by Numeric Growth, 2014 to 2019
Occupation Number Employed Average Annual Wages
Other Personal Care and Service Workers 7,652 $20,900
Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners 9,323 $91,400
Food and Beverage Serving Workers 11,957 $20,400
Building Cleaning and Pest Control Workers 5,422 $22,400
Health Technologists and Technicians 5,935 $40,500

Note: Data are as of Q4 2019 except wage data, which are for covered employment in 2018.
Source: JobsEQ

Regional Economy

In 2019, taxable sales directly attributable to businesses in the region exceeded $5.8 billion, about 1.1 percent of the state’s overall taxable sales.

Regional Receipts Subject to Sales Tax

Northwest Region, Taxable Sales, 2007-2019
Year Revenue Northwest Region
2007 5.3 billion dollars
2008 5.3 billion dollars
2009 4.5 billion dollars
2010 5.1 billion dollars
2011 5.6 billion dollars
2012 5.8 billion dollars
2013 5.8 billion dollars
2014 6.3 billion dollars
2015 5.7 billion dollars
2016 5.1 billion dollars
2017 5.5 billion dollars
2018 5.6 billion dollars
2019 5.8 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

Summary

The Northwest region and its 30 counties have many unique economic conditions and challenges. The region’s population growth has been stable since 2010, and job growth has been stagnant during the last decade. The region’s receipts subject to state sales tax showed a slight upward trend following the 2007-2009 recession, reaching a high point in 2014.

The Northwest Region is one of the Comptroller’s 12 economic regions.

View a complete list of these regions, plus more in-depth county-by-county data.

Glenn Hegar

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts


Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the material on this page, please contact the Comptroller’s Data Analysis and Transparency Division.