Explore in-depth features about our regional economy.
New disruption from artificial intelligence exposes high-skilled workers
With workers still grappling with the consequences of automation, the lightning-speed pace of artificial intelligence (AI) development poses fresh concerns of a new wave of worker displacement.
State output remains distinctly Texan, while jobs mix increasingly resembles the U.S.
Lore and data have historically suggested that Texas is unlike any other place. Over the past 40 years, change has swept the state. Texas’ employment composition has increasingly come to resemble the entirety of the U.S., more so than even California or New York. But Texas economic output is another story.
Jeffrey Fuhrer: When you don’t get ahead by simply working harder
Economist Jeffrey Fuhrer, a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution and former Boston Fed director of research, discusses "The Myth that Made Us," his new book about inequalities in the nation’s economic system. He offers proposals to close the nation’s wealth gap in a discussion with Dallas Fed economist Pia Orrenius.
Michael Weber: The messenger affects who listens to your message
University of Chicago Booth School associate professor Michael Weber explains how audiences are most receptive to monetary policy messaging delivered by Fed officials whose ethnic or gender background is similar to theirs. The tendency is also generally observed in other communications contexts, he tells Dallas Fed economist Pia Orrenius.
Strong U.S. labor market drives record remittances to Mexico
Remittances from the U.S. to Mexico reached a record $55.9 billion in 2022. Strong employment in the U.S. construction sector—a leading employer of Mexican migrants—best explains the recent growth of remittances to Mexico.
Hotter summer days heat up Texans but chill the state economy
As climate change intensifies over the next decade, summer heat waves will likely become more common and severe. The effect on Texas GDP growth is likely to be twice as pronounced as in the rest of the U.S. Meanwhile, the effect on job growth will likely be relatively subdued but vary widely across sectors.
Bankers, regulators absorb lessons of Silicon Valley Bank failure as new tests emerge
Ben Munyan, director of supervisory policy in the Banking Supervision Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, discusses the challenges the banking industry faces in an era of rapidly rising interest rates and how Texas institutions have fared.
Mexican IT services firm pitches ‘nearshoring’ as alternative to overseas ties
Softek chief executive Beni Lopez discusses the competitive challenges the firm faces in the North American market, where many of the world’s leading tech services firms are based, and the genesis of the company’s nearshoring strategy.
Our surveys deliver real-world insights from business leaders in our region. Their input is a valuable part of economic analysis and monetary policymaking.
Slowing Texas economy remains on track for a soft landing
The impact of a still-strong Texas jobs market and moderating business activities and costs suggest that the state’s economy may be headed for a soft landing following Fed policymaker efforts to cool inflationary pressures.
The Texas Employment Forecast estimates job growth for the calendar year and is calculated as the 12-month change in payroll employment from December to December.
Texas Economic Performance and Outlook, November 2023
The Texas Economic Performance and Outlook provides a timely update on recent changes to the Texas economy based on labor market statistics, survey data and high-frequency indicators across the state’s key industries. Updated monthly.
Transitioning to the postpandemic economy in the Permian Basin
This community listening session explored how families, workers, businesses and communities are navigating the post-pandemic economy in the Permian Basin.
“By spreading production costs across borders and taking advantage of lower labor costs in Mexico, firms can produce at a lower average unit cost, which leads to greater competitiveness in both global and domestic markets and to lower prices for consumers.”
How Does Immigration Fit into the Future of the U.S. Labor Market?
U.S. GDP growth is anticipated to remain sluggish over the next decade, and slow labor force growth is a key underlying reason. This paper argues admitting more immigrants is one way U.S. policymakers can bolster growth.
At the Heart of Texas: Cities’ Industry Clusters Drive Growth
The second edition of this special report is a comprehensive look at the industry clusters, history and demographics shaping 12 of Texas' key metropolitan areas, four of which are new to the report.
Recent research working papers on a variety of topics including the geography of jobs and the gender wage gap as well as the pandemic’s effect on the demand for inner-city living.
