New numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that Fort Bend County had the third highest increase in jobs during the first quarter of this year compared to last year among the nation’s largest 334 counties.
Arlington County, Va., experienced the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., with a gain of 2.6 percent.
Elkhart County, Ind., located about 100 miles east of Chicago, posted the largest percentage decline, with a loss of 23.4 percent over the year, compared with a national job decrease of 4.2 percent. Nearly 80 percent of the employment decline in Elkhart occurred in manufacturing, which lost 22,100 jobs over the year.
The statistics for Fort Bend County show 1,500 jobs were created, an increase of 1.2 percent.
“That shows you Houston suburbs are still strong…and Fort Bend County is among the leaders,” said Jeff Wiley, president of the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council. “I think we have predicted for a long time that we would be the last end of the recession. I think that’s certainly showing to be true here. We were certainly affected, but we were one of the last in, primarily because of the strong energy pricing of last year’s markets that carries into this market.”
Wiley says a strong belief in public/private partnerships has helped job growth in the county, as well as “aggressive outreach” and tax incentives provided by local cities. He noted the lack of property tax in the city of Stafford as well as the tax rate in Sugar Land.
“Our objective has been for people to look at us as a better part of the Houston market,” said Wiley. “We have a growing business district and out own presence in the Houston region that gives everyone everything they want in terms of a live, work, play environment, which is our ultimate objective.”
Wiley named Sugar Land, Katy, Cinco Ranch and “in the future” Sienna Plantation as strong draws to the region.
Job creation in the engineering field related to the energy sector played a role in the increase, but Wiley says some of those jobs will be under pressure later this year as a result of the worldwide economy.
Recently Fluor Corporation in Sugar Land, which has about 3,500 employees, announced the planned layoff of as many as 500 after Fluor’s role in a large overseas energy and chemical project was narrowed.
“Even among the layoffs announced by Fluor, over the last two or three years we have had a significant increase of employees that work at Fluor,” said Wiley. “While we have had the layoffs announced, that’s a blip on otherwise improving employment records for some of our largest employers in the county.”
Wiley says they are keeping a “strong eye” on economic indicators such as natural gas prices, but that the county doesn’t depend on the energy sector alone.
“That’s been proven by the attraction of Minute Maid,” said Wiley, referencing the companies recent move to Sugar Land. “We have an eclectic attraction for opportunities of employers across different business sectors.”
