The Abilene, Texas school system is ranked as Number One Best Public School Education System in the State of Texas and 17th Best in the USA. Not only that, but many of the local colleges and universities have been names Best Colleges to Work for in the US. Education K-12 and postsecondary is a major thrust in Abilene and accounts for part of the new job creation emphasis before and after the Stimulus Package of 2009 was released to the US States.

For some Abilene hiostory and photos, see Hello Abilene.

1. Registered Nurses (RNs) - Listed in projected growth jobs through 2016.
2. Physicians/Doctors
3. Physician and Nurse Specialists
4. Pharmacists
5. Occupational Therapists - High demand since March 2009.
6. Physical Therapists
7. Independent Sales Representatives
8. Directors of Perioperative Services
9. Family Nurse Practitioners
10. Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs)- One of the projected fastest growing occupations through 2016.

You can see that 9 out of 10, or 90% of the top job listings found anywhere over the Internet for Abilene via 1) job search engines, 2) individual employers' company HR web pages, and 3) employment recuiters or head hunters are all involved in the Healthcare Industry. Medical colelges and health centers are expanding in Abilene, as described further below. 

The largest numbers of jobs in West Central Texas through 2016 appear in the following cartegories:

1. Farmers and Ranchers - Agriculture and livestock
2. Cashiers
3. Retail Salespersons
4. Farmworkers and Related Laborers - Agricultural food and animal crops, plant nurseries, greenhouses, tree farms.
5. Waitstaff - Casual to full service.
6. Registered Nurses(RNs) - the top leading jopb listing in Abeline, summer 2009.
7. Personal and Home Care Aides
8. Combined Food Prep/Service Workers, all types of dining
9. Customer Service Reps
10. Mainstream Elementary School Teachers

The official Federal and Texas State projected employment trends from 2006 to 2016 span a decade of years and may not fully match actual job listings at any specific time or date during those 10 years. Throughout the decade, the projected jobs with highest growth rates and most openings are believed to manifest as such by the end of the 10-year period in 2016.

New Federal projections are extracted from trending data and published every 2 years, say from 2008 - 2018, then 2010 - 2020, and so on. This provides a regular adjustment as trends change or are impacted by such events as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Merging industries and career fields insert themselves into these projections as well as American technologies advance.

The years 2009 - 2012 mark President Barack Obama's term as US President as well as the effects of an economic recession form 2008 - 2009. followed by economic stimulus provided in the ARRA of 2009 and additional extra funding provided by the US Federal Government.

One of the provisions of the ARRA is the funding of additional healthcare services to help keep working individuals and families on the job. We see that in actual job listings, 9 out of 10 of the Top 10 Jobs in the Abilene Metro Area are healthcare jobs. These listings were on the increase before the ARRA of 2009 began, even during the recession, and more so after ARRA stimulus funds were applied. This is particularly true of Registered Nurses (RNs) and doctors and will continue as a trend as medical centers and schools continue to expand.

• Abilene Christian University - This university offers an iSchool full of technology programs. Abilene Christian University was named one of the Best Colleges in the US to Work For by a survey published 7/6/09 by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
• Abilene Regional Medical Center
• Hardin-Simmons University - oNe of the Top 10 Great Colleges to Work For in the US.
• Hendrick Medical Center - School of Radiography -- This medical campus is undergoing a huge expansion through 2010 that requires the addition of medical and healthcare personnel in many areas. A WebCam is set up on their website to illustrate the ongping progress of medicine at Hendrick.
• McMurry University & Christian College - Students of McMurry University may enroll in courses at Abilene Christian University or Hardin-Simmons University at the same time. McMurry also offers classes for Dyess AFB. Aside ffrom pre-enginnering and pre-law, the school offers several courses and a Model UN program.

Abilene is the site of Dyess Air Force Base and a USAF fleet of B-1 Bombers and C-130 transport planes (two squadrons). The 7th Operations Group works with a third plane, flying and training pilots for the B-1B Lancer. Together, these units join service and support units to make a major contribution to the economy of the Greater Abilene Area. In July 2009, an air base bus service began, indicating a new spurt in growing economic health. As of July 2009, several healthcare related job openings exist on base, adding to the expansion of the Healthcare Industry locally.

Dyess Air Force Base was Abilene Army Airfield (1942-1948) and Abilene Air Force Base (1948 - 1956) After the USAF was formed during WWII. The base honors legendary Lt. Col. William E. Dyess, born in 1916 in Albany, Texas. Growing up, he was fascinated with the work of the Wright Brothers and Charles Lindbergh and pursued flight training when he was old enough at Randolph Field (the West Point of the Air) and Kelly Field in San Antonio.

As a Colonel, Dyess commanded in the Philippines during WWII on Bataan, but when his command ran out of equipment and supplies, he led a ground fight. Captured in 1942, he and his men made the 85-mile Bataan Death March on foot and he lived. After one full year as a POW in three camps and a prison ship, Dyess escaped and learned guerrilla warfare from the Filipinos to become a one-man army feared by the Japanese opposition. Upon return stateside, he testified before Congress about POW tortures and began training to return to battle. However, he died in a training crash while preve nting the plane from harming comrades and residents of the area. Colonel Dyess reminds us of the service men and women in modern war zones and their sacrifices for their country and fellow citizens.