The cities REAL ESTATE FORUM has chosen to spotlight as leading markets for job growth, based on a consensus from multiple industry studies and reports, have a few things in common. Three are in Texas, while three more are on the West Coast—including two that are across San Francisco Bay from one another. A common thread among all of them is the key drivers of employment growth in their markets: energy, tech or both.

Energy and tech are broad-based terms, the latter in particular. The tech sector may mean biotechnology or the likes of Google and Microsoft. In more than a few of these markets, such as Silicon Valley, it covers both bases.

That’s not all these cities have going for them, of course. Seattle has long been an aerospace center and continues to be, while Dallas has diversified its tenant base beyond energy. Over the next four pages, we’ll provide snapshots of what makes each of these growth markets tick.

AUSTIN, TX

DALLAS

DENVER

HOUSTON

OKLAHOMA CITY

RALEIGH/DURHAM, NC

SALT LAKE CITY

SAN FRANCISCO

SEATTLE

SILICON VALLEY

Want to know why we chose these markets? Check out the November 2012 issue of Real Estate Forum online.