Businesses Fleeing Liberal States Find Freedom and Success in Texas's Booming Economy

Texas has cemented its place as America’s leader in job creation. In April 2025, the state added 37,700 nonfarm jobs, more than any other, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Over the past year, Texas generated 215,500 jobs, and since Governor Greg Abbott took office in 2015, an astonishing 2.5 million jobs have emerged. These figures reflect more than numbers; they signify families with stable incomes, communities on the rise, and a state that prioritizes prosperity.

What fuels this extraordinary growth? Texas fosters an environment where businesses thrive, moving at the pace of innovation, as Governor Abbott emphasizes. Companies flock to the state, escaping the high taxes and heavy regulations of places like California and New York. Why would a business settle for less when Texas offers the freedom to grow and succeed? The state’s appeal is undeniable, drawing corporate relocations and expansions at a record pace.

This success is built on a vision for the future. Recently, Governor Abbott signed legislation protecting businesses from judicial overreach, ensuring decisions made for shareholders remain unchallenged. This complements earlier reforms, such as the specialty business courts established last session, which simplify legal processes for companies. Texas isn’t just keeping up; it’s defining the standard for economic leadership.

Texas’s economic triumphs rest on a clear strategy: low taxes, light regulation, and strong infrastructure. In 2024, the state attracted 1,368 capital investment projects, far surpassing its nearest competitor, driven by right-to-work laws, efficient permitting, and competitive tax policies. These measures have spurred job growth in construction and manufacturing, bucking national slowdowns. History backs this approach. Reagan-era deregulation unleashed private investment, and Texas has refined that model, delivering consistent gains for decades.

Compare this to states like California and New York, where businesses and residents are leaving in droves. From 2021 to 2025, California lost 2.2% of its population to net domestic migration, and New York dropped 2.1%. Texas, even with stabilizing inflows, remains a hub for talent and investment. Why endure punitive taxes and red tape when Texas rewards ambition? Companies are relocating their headquarters to the Lone Star State, proving the power of a business-friendly climate.

Workforce development plays a critical role. Texas invests in training programs tailored to high-demand sectors like technology, healthcare, and energy. The Texas Workforce Commission, drawing on a legacy of federal initiatives like the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, ensures workers’ skills match industry needs. Unlike states such as New York, where training programs have underperformed, Texas’s targeted efforts yield tangible results, sustaining a skilled workforce that drives economic growth.

Some claim Texas’s business-friendly policies sacrifice worker welfare, citing wage stagnation or income inequality. They reference states like Florida, where similar approaches have raised concerns about labor protections. Yet this argument overlooks Texas’s broader achievements. The state’s GDP surged over 115% from 1997 to 2022, outstripping national growth, and unemployment hovers at 4.1%. These outcomes show a workforce empowered by opportunity, not hindered by it.

Supporters of high taxes and strict regulations argue their policies promote fairness, but the evidence suggests otherwise. States with heavy-handed labor standards, like California, face business flight and fiscal strain. Texas, by contrast, boosts tax revenues through economic expansion, funding public services without burdening employers. The choice is clear: foster growth and opportunity or stifle it with bureaucracy. Texas embraces the path to prosperity.

Texas’s economic dominance reflects bold leadership and a commitment to free markets, limited government, and individual opportunity. As President Trump embarks on his second term, his focus on deregulation and tax relief mirrors Texas’s proven strategy. Project 2025’s call for cutting corporate taxes to 15% and reducing federal bureaucracy aligns with the state’s approach, reinforcing its national influence.

The state’s momentum remains strong. Projections for 2025 estimate 1.5–1.7% economic growth, adding up to 245,400 jobs. With ongoing investments in infrastructure and workforce training, Texas is well-positioned to lead America’s economy for years to come. Other states can adopt this model or risk falling further behind.

Texas demonstrates that prosperity benefits everyone. By empowering businesses and workers, the state creates opportunities that ripple across communities. The question isn’t whether Texas will maintain its lead; it’s whether the nation will follow its example. For those seeking a brighter future, the Lone Star State shines as the ultimate destination.