Businesses in Allen are supported by a highly-skilled workforce and a pipeline of future talent.
Workforce
Labor Force
Allen’s labor shed contains one of the most highly-educated and skilled workforces in the state of Texas.
projected job growth in Allen, well above the national average of 5.9%
unionization in a right-to-work state
Statistical Overview
| Location | Workers | White Collar Workers | Service Workers | Blue Collar Workers |
| Allen | 54,781 | 44,402 (81%) | 5,424 (10%) | 4,958 (9%) |
| 15 Minute Drive Time | 248,776 | 191,695 (77%) | 34,968 (14%) | 25,114 (10%) |
| 30 Minute Drive Time | 1,158,430 | 822,890 (71%) | 171,973 (15%) | 161,570 (14%) |
| 45 Minute Drive Time | 2,140,342 | 1,410,160 (66%) | 345,400 (16%) | 384,780 (18%) |
| DFW Metro Area | 3,795,431 | 2,401,223 (63%) | 621,100 (16%) | 773,108 (20%) |
Downloads
- IEDC Data Sheet: Industry/Occupation Mix and Cluster Analysis
- Customizable Report: Labor Force by Occupation (SOC Code)
Unemployment
As with the rest of the country, unemployment rates have been approaching historic lows.
But that doesn’t mean that talent isn’t available. Since the Dallas-Fort Worth area recovered from the recession more quickly than the nation at large (see chart), local employers have had more time to adjust their recruitment strategies to the dynamics of a tighter labor market by:
- Leveraging the area’s low cost of living to offer modest wage increases—since costs have remained competitive, smaller increases can go farther
- Taking advantage of qualitative benefits, such as superior amenities and shorter commutes
- Leveraging workforce training grants and programs such as the Skills Development Fund to increase the productivity of their existing employees or new hires
- Recruiting from the steady stream of workers provided by strong in-migration. Between 2015 and 2016, 87,978 people ages 25-64 moved into the Dallas-Fort Worth area from outside the state.
Higher Education
Universities / Four-Year Education
Allen’s employers are nestled in an extensive higher education system.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to a number of major universities that house nationally- (and even globally-) ranked programs in business, science and engineering, and medical/health sciences fields. Many of these universities are also on the cutting edge of research and innovation in science and engineering:
- UT Dallas, UNT, and UT Arlington are all ranked as Tier I (R1) research universities, indicating they have the highest level of research activity among their national peers
- Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University (located in Fort Worth) have received R2 classification, indicating a higher research activity
colleges and universities in the DFW area
vocational and technical schools offer specialized training
students enrolled in higher education
degrees awarded in STEM fields
Degrees Awarded from Major Institutions in 2017
| University | Total | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Texas (UT) at Dallas | 7,041 | 3,468 | 3,374 | 199 |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | 449 | – | 99 | 350 |
| Southern Methodist University | 3,917 | 1,778 | 325 | 1,814 |
| University of North Texas (UNT) | 8,994 | 6,970 | 1,766 | 257 |
| UNT Dallas | 600 | 435 | 133 | 32 |
| Texas Woman’s University | 3,900 | 2,200 | 1,453 | 247 |
| Texas Christian University | 2,711 | 2,099 | 116 | 496 |
| UT Arlington | 12,747 | 8,157 | 4,369 | 221 |
| Grand Total | 40,465 | 25,210 | 11,638 | 3,616 |
Downloads
- Data Sheet – Enrollment & Degrees Awarded
Colleges / Two-Year Education
Collin College
The area is also home to Collin College, the largest community college in North Texas where over 40,000 students are enrolled in credit courses.
The school’s Center for Workforce & Economic Development offers training programs specialized to meet companies’ need. Workforce development grants like the Skills Development Fund have helped Allen companies reduce the costs of training their employees. For example, KONE, a global elevator and escalator manufacturer, recently received a $398,000 grant for customized training programs.
Downloads
- Coming Soon: Data Sheet – Collin College – Degrees Awarded by Subject
Collin College Technical Campus
Collin College is about to begin construction on a new campus in Allen that will serve as the county’s central hub for career and technical education when it opens in 2020.
- 340,000 SF of state-of-the-art instructional, vocational, technology training, and office space
- Potential to serve over 4,000 students
- A true campus environment with underground parking, top-quality landscaping, and sidewalk connections that enable students to walk and bike to mixed-use amenities on the 121 Corridor