Brooks County
The government is the largest
economic sector in Brooks county,
accounting for over 30 percent of all
local jobs. Its local Independent School
District is the largest employer within
the county. Like the rest of the Coastal
Bend, the majority of the local workforce
is engaged in providing services as
opposed to manufacturing goods. The
major private industries in the county are
retail trade and health care, followed by
accommodation and food services, and
mining. The mining sector employs over
10 percent of the local workforce, but
fewer than 10 individuals work in oil and
gas extraction.
Employment Growth 2012-13 by Industry
Government
Other Services (except Public Admin)
Accommodation & Food Services
Arts & Recreation
Health Care & Social Assistance
Educational Services (Private)
Administrative & Support
Management of Businesses
Professional & Scientific Services
Real Estate & Rental
Finance & Insurance
Information
Transportation & Warehousing
Retail Trade
Wholesale Trade
Manufacturing
Construction
Utilities
Mining
Agriculture
Brooks county’s job growth has
retreated from the 2012 peak. With a
relatively small workforce, a reduction or
addition of a few jobs in one particular
industry generates a significant
percentage change in employment of that
-8%
-6%
-4%
-2%
industry. The 6 percent reduction in arts
and recreation employment, the largest
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
percentage decline, was associated with
only one job cut in that industry.
Home Starts
Sales
40%
7
30%
6
25
20%
5
20
10%
4
15
0%
3
10
-10%
2
5
-20%
1
-30%
0
35
Volume, $mil (left scale)
Y-o-Y % Change (right scale)
30
0
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Business activity in Brooks county
has been relatively stable, except for
the downfall during the depths of the
economic downturn in 2009. For the past
14
|
2013
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
three years, the volume of business sales
remained around $25 million per month.
The housing market is also relatively
steady. During the most recent housing
Annual Review of the South Texas Economy – 2014 Edition
boom, six new homes were built each
year. During the past three years, no new
homes were built.