Blanco County Is On the Rise – Shaping a Future of Opportunity

Welcome to the Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area monthly newsletter.

This resource empowers leaders with the tools and data they need to make informed decisions. By analyzing workforce trends, identifying skills gaps, and understanding industry needs, leaders can effectively allocate resources, attract businesses, support workforce development, and advocate for policies that create a thriving local economy. This resource provides access to critical data sources and insights to help you navigate the complexities of the local economy and achieve your economic development goals.

This month, we delve into the latest workforce trends in Blanco County. We want this tool to be a valuable resource for you. Share your suggestions by reaching out to communications@ruralcapital.net.

This article is part of an ongoing, county-by-county, industry overview of the Rural Capital Area. This article covers establishments, employment, and earnings in Blanco County.

What is Shift Share?

Shift-share analysis is a regional economic analysis technique used to examine the factors contributing to employment or economic growth in a specific region. It helps policymakers and analysts understand how much of a region’s job growth is due to various reasons including national, industrial, or local. Most importantly the “Competitive Effect” indicates how much of overall job change is the result of some unique competitive advantage of the region.¹

To define the terms included in this analysis: Net Effect is the sum of the National Effect (reflecting overall job growth driven by the national economy), the Industry Shift effect (showing how national industry trends impact the region), and the Competitive Effect (indicating how local competitive advantages or disadvantages influence job growth beyond national trends).

Local Shift Share in the County

To analyze Shift Share in Blanco County, we will use the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). NAICS organizes economic activity into a structured hierarchy for businesses based on the type of work they do. Sectors are broad categories used to group similar types of economic activity, classified by two-digit codes. Industries are detailed classifications that focus on the specific business operations within those sectors, organized by six-digit codes.

Figure 1 illustrates the top five sectors by Competitive Effect in Blanco County. Each sector, especially Leisure and Hospitality, exhibits a positive Competitive Effect. Meanwhile, Professional and Business Services have a declining Industry Shift value of 9. However, this does not necessarily indicate a negative outcome. A negative Industry Shift combined with a Positive Competitive effect indicates that while the Professional and Business Services sector is declining nationally, it is growing in Blanco County. This suggests that Blanco County is outperforming the national trend and successfully expanding employment in this sector.

Figure 1: Top Five Sectors in Blanco County by Competitive Effect, 2023

Source: Data Tactical Group, DTG 2025.Q2

For example, an article published by S&P Global in late 2024 stated employers cut 497,000 jobs in professional and business services, which includes accountants, consultants, and legal workers.² However, Blanco County is seeing a growing population leading to the assumption that more employees are needed.

Between 2022 and 2023, Blanco saw a population increase from 12,411 to 13,048, a 5.1% increase.³ Areas experiencing significant population growth often see corresponding increases in employment opportunities, which helps explain the expansion of the Professional and Business Services sector. As communities grow, so does the demand for essential services such as accounting, legal support, and administrative functions

Figure 2: Shift-Share Analysis of Six-Digit NAICS Industries in Blanco County, 2018-2023

Source: Data Tactical Group, DTG 2025.Q2

When breaking down NAICS codes, more insight is provided on how each industry in different sectors compares to the U.S. counterpart. Industry trends are shown below:

• Distilleries showed positive values across all four shift-share components. The positive Industry Shift reflects strong national growth in this industry, while the Competitive Effect suggests that Blanco County is outperforming national trends.
• Full-Service Restaurants showed a negative Industry Shift but a positive Competitive Effect, meaning the industry is declining nationally. So, Blanco County is outperforming the U.S. in job growth for this sector.
• Administration of Housing Programs has a negative Competitive Effect 2.2. This implies that this industry is declining faster than the same industry at the national level due to local factors.

Blanco County is experiencing notable growth, with the population up by 11.9% since 2018 and jobs surging by 25.3%—from 4,102 to 5,138—well above the national trend. With a labor force participation rate climbing to 67.1% and a competitive median household income of $79.7K, the county is establishing a robust economic foundation that attracts both residents and businesses alike.

Key sectors in Blanco County are driving this momentum. Restaurants and other eating establishments, beverage manufacturing, and building equipment contractors are leading the charge, while sectors like manufacturing and skilled trades continue to play a vital role. Notably, companies such as Dell Technologies and Pedernales Electric Cooperative highlight the diverse industry mix and the growing presence of technology and energy sectors, while local educational institutions like Blanco ISD underscore the community’s commitment to workforce development.

At the heart of these developments is Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area. Through innovative sector partnerships, they collaborate with local industries to pinpoint both immediate and long-term talent needs, empowering employers with forward-thinking recruitment and retention strategies. With 1,909 companies actively employing local talent and 194 job postings in the past 12 months, these strategic initiatives are helping Blanco County build a sustainable and innovative workforce for today and tomorrow.

Visit Us Today!

We invite you to visit  our Blanco County office and discover how Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area can help you achieve your career and business goals.

Let’s Build a Stronger Blanco County Together,

Paul Fletcher CEO Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area