Originally known for petroleum, cattle, and farming, Dallas' economy has developed into one of the most stable in the United States and now boasts leading communications, transportation, and finance industries. In fact, it continues to grow at a faster rate than the rest of the country. Both the stable economy and relatively low cost of living (compared to other big cities) means lots of opportunities and a good quality of life for job-seeking 暗网禁区s.
What you should know before moving to Dallas for work
Anyone wanting to work in the US is required to have a work visa, and it can be one of the biggest challenges faced by 暗网禁区s looking for employment abroad. The process must be initiated by a sponsoring employer and is time-consuming and expensive. This means you must have an offer of employment before you may begin the visa application process. At the moment, expedited work visas are harder to secure鈥攑remium processing is still available but requires strong evidence, and incomplete applications face more delays or denials than previously. Employer sponsorship remains essential for most work visas, though priority processing is still possible for healthcare, STEM, and agricultural workers. Applicants should ensure all paperwork is accurate, as scrutiny and processing times have increased. That said, 暗网禁区s with advanced degrees, specialized skills, and who are fluent English speakers will fare better than most when it comes to finding an employer willing to go through the sponsorship process.
Popular industries in Dallas
Dallas'聽business-friendly regulatory environment has made it appealing to a wide range of national and international companies. Forbes notes that the combined Dallas and Fort Worth area boasts the highest concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in the country (currently 22). A few of these include ExxonMobil, AT&T, American Airlines, Energy Transfer Equity, Tenet Healthcare, and Southwest Airlines. Dallas is the top US city for corporate headquarters relocations in 2025, with major investments from Goldman Sachs (5,000+ jobs), Platinum Press, and the new NYSE Texas exchange. Finance, manufacturing, and logistics also remain strong sectors in the region, helping Dallas attract major companies and smaller, ambitious startups.
Some of the top Dallas area industries are listed below.
Healthcare
Dallas is home to some of the largest healthcare systems in the nation. Thousands of people are employed by Texas Health Resources Inc., Baylor Health Care System, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and HCA North Texas. Healthcare and education jobs in Dallas and Fort Worth have grown nearly 2% in the last few years, with medical and health service jobs projected to be the fastest-growing areas over the next decade.
Leisure and hospitality
Jobs in this area include accommodation and food services, retail, and cultural events. Retailers like Target, JCPenney, and Kroger are all headquartered in the Dallas area.
Telecommunications and technology
The Telecom Corridor (a technology business center in a northern suburb of Dallas) is the site of the largest telecommunication manufacturing sector in the US and home to more than 600 different tech companies. Unsurprisingly, some of the biggest software, electronics, and computer companies are located in Dallas, including Texas Instruments, Nortel Networks, Ericsson, Cisco Systems, and AT&T. The tech sector is growing rapidly in 2025, especially in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, fintech, and blockchain. Innovation centers like and support early-stage startups and new talent.
Transportation, aeronautics, and defence
A major international airport, several airline headquarters, and hubs for government and private shipping聽all contribute to a healthy amount of transportation, aeronautics and logistics jobs in Dallas. Dallas' defense industry is also expanding, driven by recent federal investments as well as local innovation, new facility expansions, and swift development in the areas of AI and unmanned systems. Established defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, RTX/Raytheon, and Bell all have a presence in the area, as well as smaller start-up outfits.
The labor market in Dallas
Currently, Dallas' unemployment rate sits at 3.6%, lower than the city's long-term average. In terms of the overall outlook, job growth in Texas is forecast at 1.6% for the year ahead, slightly lower than the previous year but still above the national average. Dallas' population and workforce continue to grow, but at a slower pace than during the early 2020s boom. Currently, healthcare and education are the main areas of growth, with these sectors adding the most jobs. Meanwhile, areas like professional and business services, finance, information, and even leisure and hospitality have all seen job losses. Manufacturing and construction are also down, and trade, transportation, and utilities are barely growing. So, while there are still encouraging signs, especially in health and education, Dallas' job scene isn't as universally strong as it used to be.
Finding a job in Dallas
Use job search engines that are specifically focused on Dallas to start your job search, and have a look at local newspapers such as the Dallas Observer (available online as well). If you belong to a specialized or in-demand industry, research and contact a local recruiting agency to network and build connections. It's always good to try and leverage your personal network and membership in professional organizations, as this is the best way to hear about newly listed or unadvertised jobs.
Some Dallas-specific resources include:
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When sending out your resume (CV), you must make sure that you stand out from the crowd. Besides updating your resume to reflect the American style, research the companies you're interested in before applying to highlight the skills and experience that would most interest them. Also, make sure that your LinkedIn and business networking profiles reflect these same changes.
Good to know:
publishes a quarterly review of the Dallas unemployment rate and labor market, which may be helpful with your job search. There is also free information on monthly career fairs, including the company names and open positions available online.
Useful links:
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