"San Antonio Employment - Career Prospects And Top Companies For Jobs"

This rapid growth rate could mean a significant influx of jobs to act as support for the rapidly growing population.

Such a swift population growth could portend an increase in the housing market as well as supporting markets such as construction.

San Antonio Employment – Economic Outlook

Furthermore, San Antonio just landed a lucrative contract which will add thousands of new jobs to the San Antonio area and untold more in support industries. Washington Mutual, the country’s largest savings and loan, will open a regional operational center and employ as many as 4,200 people during the next seven years.

Reports indicate that the first hires will be to staff a call center.

These jobs are anticipated to be highly paid; ranging between $30,000 and $40,000 per year. The first phase of hiring is expected to begin between August and October of 2005.

San Antonio Employment – Major Employers

While the announcement that San Antonio won this coveted bid is big news; these are not the only jobs that are expected to come to this rapidly burgeoning city. Toyota has already announced construction of an $800 million plan in the San Antonio area; expected to be completed in 2006. In addition, Pro Bass Shops announced in late 2005 that they planned to break ground in mid-2005 with a mega store that could potentially employ 3,000 people.

It is also anticipated that during the next year, military employment opportunities will continue to grow in the San Antonio area; concentrated in the number of military bases that flank the city.

A major portion of the employment in and around the San Antonio area is comprised from:

• Fort Sam Houston Lackland Air Force Base
• Randolph Air Force Base
• Brooks Air Force Base
• Brooke Army Medical Center

The growth in military positions is primarily due to a shifting of personnel from other facilities, some from as far away as bases in Europe; however the military growth could signal new jobs in support industries.

Major employers in the San Antonio area currently include SBC Communications, Valero Energy Corporation, H.B. Zachry Company, CiticorpLa Quinta Motor Inns and KCI.

San Antonio Employment – Career Prospects

Traditionally, the city has shown a strong employment base in the healthcare-biomedical, tourism and military industries; however the services industry also comprises a large section of the San Antonio employment base. Retail trade and government follow closely behind. A large bulk of the services industry is derived from the tourism cross-section, with the city serving as a hot spot among vacationers and conventioneers throughout the year.

At the current time, employment prospects in San Antonio are among the best in the nation. In fact, the employment outlook in San Antonio ranks as the 7th best in the nation.