Gov. Perry: Aerospace and Defense Industry Plays Key Role in a Thriving Texas Economy

Gov. Rick Perry today hailed the aerospace and defense industry for its contribution to the strength of the San Antonio economy as he spoke to area industry leaders.

"The 13 aerospace companies that call Port San Antonio home have created nearly 9,000 jobs and account for about $1.46 billion in annual economic activity," Gov. Perry said. "These high-paying jobs require a degree of education that is increasingly common to the global marketplace, so we have worked hard to improve the quality of public education. We're working to ensure young Texans are ready to take their rightful place in the workforce of tomorrow."

Since September 2003, the Governor's Office of Aerospace, Aviation and Defense has been instrumental in encouraging companies to invest in building and growing their businesses in Texas. As a result, Texas has maintained its leading role as home to almost 2,000 aerospace companies with more than 184,000 Texans holding jobs in this industry.

The aerospace industry is another reason Texas' economy continues to pace the nation. No other state is home to more Fortune 500 companies, and Texas has been the nation's leading exporting state for eight consecutive years. Texas also created more private sector jobs than any other state in the nation over the last 10 years, helping the state's unemployment rate remain more than a full percentage point below the national average.