Hegar Visits Metroplex on Tour of Texas Manufacturing Plants

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas (FORT WORTH)  On the North Texas stop of his Good for Texas Tour: Manufacturing Edition Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar visited two plants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Gerdau Ameristeel in Midlothian and Alcon in Fort Worth. These companies both contribute to a dynamic manufacturing economy in the Metroplex region Hegar said. They create jobs indirectly and produce other benefits that ripple throughout the Texas economy. During his Good for Texas Tour: Manufacturing Edition Hegar is touring facilities meeting with local officials and sharing the results of a study the Comptrollers office recently completed examining the economic impact of the manufacturing industry. Texas primary metals manufacturing subsector which includes Gerdau Ameristeel is responsible for $4.6 billion in annual exports nearly 70000 direct and indirect jobs and $3.1 billion in contributions to the states gross domestic product (GDP). While the states primary metals manufacturing GDP rose significantly over the last two decades it faces economic challenges including reduced use of steel in lighter more fuel-efficient vehicles and a shift toward increased recycling and reuse of steel Hegar said. The medical equipment and supplies and miscellaneous products subsector which includes Alcon accounts for $4.9 billion in annual exports and about 59000 Texas direct and indirect jobs as well as $3 billion of the states GDP. This subsectors exports from Texas rose from $2.3 billion in 2006 to $4.9 billion in 2016 Hegar said. But its not highly concentrated in Texas as a whole although there is a high regional employment concentration in upper East Texas. In all Texas manufacturers were responsible for 3 million direct and indirect jobs in 2016 as well as $210.3 billion in exports and $225.8 billion in GDP. Average annual salary for direct jobs is nearly $74000. Members of the media can access downloadable graphics and other resources in our online media center.