San Antonio Has Gotten Bigger, But Not Necessarily Better, Over Last Decade
San Antonio has seen some of the strongest economic growth in the country over the last decade, but lags when it comes to high wages and income distribution.
The Brookings Institute's Metro Monitor measures the economic health of the nation's top 100 cities each year. Texas, in general, has weathered the Great Recession better than most states. But when it comes to reaping the benefits of a rebounding economy, larger cities on each coast are bigger beneficiaries.
Over a 10-year span, San Antonio was ranked third in the U.S. for growth, 17th for prosperity and 30th for inclusion. Inclusion measures whether employment and wages rise for all income levels.
But this year's ranking puts San Antonio 54th when those measures are considered overall. The San Antonio Economic Development Foundation said that is not a full picture of the city's progress.
“We are encouraged by the continued growth in our region. The Brookings data is from 2016, just prior to the community’s shift in priority regarding quality jobs in our target sectors," San Antonio Education Development Foundation CEO Jenna Saucedo-Herrera said. "These sectors play to the region’s strengths and we’re confident that our strategic focus, in addition to our collaborative workforce development efforts, will help positively address income inequality in the area.”
San Antonio Chamber of Commerce CEO Richard Perez said there is no denying that income inequality exists in San Antonio but the business community continues to support education and job opportunities that could lead to growth.
"A good job and a strong education are key elements to tackling that long-standing inequality," Perez said.
San Antonio has been ranking both high and low on a variety of surveys. In the last few months, San Antonio has been, by turn, dangerous, somewhat hardworking, a great place to visit on a budget and the location of one of the best hotels in the country.
