New unemployment numbers released today show even more positive signs of an economic recovery. According to the Texas Workforce Commission 7.2% of Austinites were looking for a job last month. That's down .4% compared to January.
Next week's issue of TIME magazine features a cover story titled "Jobs -- where they are."
TIME says those jobs are right here in Austin.
Carl Shepherd is the co-founder of HomeAway, which brings nearly a half-million vacation home owners around the world together with vacationers looking to live like locals while on vacation.
Proof the five year old company has made the big time came during the Super Bowl when it's 30-second ad aired during the game. More affirmation of HomeAway's success comes in the TIME magazine article which features several Central Texas based businesses as proof of the current strength of the Austin economy.
"Austin in particular it is a magnet for investment and the best and brightest people who want to move to move to a place that's as wonderful as Austin," said Shepherd.
"All of the features around Austin, all the music and the water and the outside and the stuff to do makes Austin a great place to live which makes it easier to build a company because people want to live here," said Michael Breen.
Breen is the founder of Xtreme Power, also featured in the TIME article. Xtreme Power takes and stores the variable electricity generated by renewable sources like wind and solar and then distributes it back into the grid.
"You couldn't have done this without the deep, deep technology roots that Austin has," said Breen.
Austin Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez says the article does a good job of highlighting the diversity of the Austin job market, which he says is key to succeeding in tough economic times.
"These are all different types of jobs that speak to a different audience but they all put money into the local economy, people buys homes, they buy their goods and services here, it has a positive impact," said Martinez.
Martinez was quick to point out that Austin is not without it's problems. He says some people remain out of work, and the East side is hurting, but he says there needs to be a time to stop and smell the roses and celebrate what's good about Austin and he says the TIME article helps to do just that.
