Texas Voters Remain Optimistic Despite Widening Local Job Market Disparities
Austin, Tuesday, 15 September 2026.
Despite widespread optimism about Texas’s economic future, 52% of residents live in areas experiencing flat or declining job growth, highlighting a stark regional employment divide across the state.
Economic Confidence Amidst Concern
A new poll released by nonpartisan policy group Texas 2036 on September 15, 2026, reveals that a majority of Texas voters remain confident in the state’s long-term economic outlook, expecting it to outpace the broader United States economy [1]. Despite this optimism, 68% of Texas voters are extremely or very concerned about the state’s future, indicating a complex sentiment landscape [1]. The 10th Texas Voter Poll, conducted by Baselice & Associates from August 22–26, 2026, surveyed 1,369 registered Texas voters with a weighted sample size of 1,001 and a ±3.1 percentage point margin of error [1].
Regional Employment Disparities
Federal labor data released alongside the survey highlights growing divergence within the state, as urban centers like Austin and Dallas experience robust job growth while rural and energy-dependent regions face stagnant labor markets [1]. While Texas continues to outperform the U.S. in job creation, 52% of Texans live in counties where employment declined or remained flat over the previous year ending September 14, 2026 [1]. Regional employment disparities include a 41% growth in Kaufman County over the last five years, contrasted by a 5% employment loss in Harrison County, representing a 46 percentage point divergence over the five-year period [1].
Policy Responses and Legislative Action
Voter support for education-to-workforce reforms is high, with 79% supporting changing the senior year of high school to improve college/career rigor [1]. State legislative actions include the 2023 passage of House Bill 8 and the 2025 passage of Senate Bill 1786, aiming to align funding with student outcomes and regional labor-demand analysis [1]. Texas 2036 analysis of the new funding system shows a 22.3% increase in credentials awarded over the first two years, with a 26% increase in high-demand fields [1].