San Marcos, Texas – When the caps are thrown in the air at Texas State University, many graduates are met with celebration but some with uncertainty.
Despite earning degrees in field ranging from business to biology, Texas State alumni often struggle to find stable, full time employment within the city. San Marcos, a fast growing community nestled between Austin and San Antonio, has seen economic development in recent years but job growth has not kept pace with the influx of young educated workers.
Like other students incoming graduate Antonio Romo knew he had to relocate after graduation in order to find a career under his major.
“I know San Marcos doesn’t really have the opportunities that I would personally take for political science because my future career is to be a politician so technically I would have to find other options, like seeing how Austin and Houston are better for government and federal jobs, it’d be a lot easier to move out of San Marcos.”
A Growing Gap Between Education and Opportunity
San Marcos is home to more than 38,000 students enrolled at Texas State. The city’s youthful, college educated population might suggest a thriving job market. However, the reality paints a different picture. According to recent data, many of the available jobs in San Marcos are low wage, part-time, or tied to the university and service industry.
As of 2024, the unemployment rate among young adults aged 18-24 in San Marcos is significantly higher than the state average, and the poverty rate for adults aged 18-64 stands at 32.8% nearly triple the national average.
This mismatch between workforce readiness and available opportunities leaves graduates with few options:underemployment, long commutes, or relocation.
“San Marcos is so much smaller, you have Austin which is the hub of larger tech companies, here you have the university as the largest employer, the hospital, and then the city of San Marcos government.” said Career Service Advisor, Adam Hernandez, of San Marcos. “So there isn’t as many tech companies or engineer companies like you’d want.”
(Photo Credit: Carolena Estrada)
(Photo Credit: Carolena Estrada)
(Photo Credit: Carolena Estrada)
(Photo Credit: Carolena Estrada)
(Photo Credit: Carolena Estrada)
(Photo Credit: Carolena Estrada)
The “College Town” Effect
Experts point to the “college town” dynamic as a contributing factor. While the presence of a major university drives economic activity, it can also create a bubble where seasonal and part time work dominate.
“We have individuals who will do full time in customer service or customer oriented positions like bartending barista” said Hernandez. “When I work with students for the most part they usually don’t want to stay in San Marcos.”
Disparities Among Demographics
The lack of opportunity affects certain groups more than others. Black women in San Marcos face the highest unemployment rate in the city at 23.5%, followed by multiracial women at 15.2%. Meanwhile, over 58% of unemployed men live below the poverty line.
Latino residents also face barriers, particularly women, who are unemployed at a rate three times higher than their male counterparts.
Texas State graduates from underrepresented communities are often hit the hardest, particularly those who are first-generation college students or lack the resources to relocate for work.
Some Hope on the Horizon
There are efforts underway to address the employment gap. The city has partnered with workforce training programs, and Texas State has ramped up career readiness resources, including internship pipelines and alumni networking.
Still, systemic challenges remain. Without a stronger push for economic diversification and job creation in industries like tech, healthcare, and education, many graduates will continue to leave San Marcos behind.
“Brain Drain” and the Future
This “brain drain” reduces the talent pool available for future businesses and makes it harder to attract companies looking for a skilled workforce.
Exploring the Lack Of Job Opportunity in San Marcos: Insights from TXST Career Advisor
San Marcos has a unique job market but graduates may find it limited. I spoke with Adam Hernandez, Texas State University career advisor, who shared insight on jobs available in the area, and what common jobs graduates seek.
Overall this has been my favorite assignment, I think I did a great job on capturing B roll that is relevant to my topic. Something I can work on is adding less VO and editing my clips at the right point.
Is San Marcos the Right City for Texas State Students to Grow Professionally ?
With graduation right around the corner, many Texas State students are left wondering wether if San Marcos is the right place to launch their professional careers. In this audio, upcoming Political Science graduate Antonio Romo shares his personal experience from job search, offering a valuable perspective on wether staying in San Marcos is the right move for new graduates.
Reflection
I’m happy with the audio I published because I asked the right questions to get the perfect quote from my source. A challenge I faced is getting a picture that is relevant to my topic. Although my story time hook is graduation, a photo displaying my source job searching would’ve been better.
San Marcos vs. College Station: Livability and Employment Comparison
San Marcos, a busy city diverse with students, locals, and travelers, sees many students graduating each semester. But with so many new graduates, are there enough job opportunities to support growth and professional development? The infographic below compares San Marcos with another college town, College Station, to highlight the differences between the two through livability and employment rates.
For this project, I’m happy with the way I simplified the provided data. The most challenging aspect was finding reliable information and determining whether it was relevant to my topic.
