The accepted definition of South Texas varies among the entities and individuals that use the term and ranges from only three counties to a total of about 80% of the state. A good definition for purposes of job search and regional review includes a total of 6 counties along the Rio Grand and the consideration of a few more close by.

The South Texas Workforce Development Area contains three counties: Jim Hogg, Webb, and Zapata Coutnies and is served by a nonprofit corporation called Workforce Solutions for South Texas, headquartered in Loredo, the county seat of Webb County.

The larger popularly recognized South Texas area also includes the counties of Starr, Hidalgo, and Cameron Counties that complete the border of Texas to the south. Some state and county agencies consider additional counties as lying within South Texas and these include Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, and Willacy Counties.

San Antonio is just above South Texas in Bexar County and is sometimes includes in South Texas proper (see inset map). San Patricio and Nueces Counties are also sometimes included (see map).

In the latter part of June 2009, the Unemployment Rate in the State of Texas was reported below that of the USA, 7.1% for the end of May compared to 9.4% nationwide. This is a remarkable difference. Why is Texas less affected by the Recession of 2009 and able to employ a greater percenti of its workers than some other US States?

Job openings seem to be skyricketing in South Texas, particularly in the Healthcare Industry, with some interesting specialties. Robotic Systems is one such medical speciality field with related jobs in in high demand, especially in the Brownsville and Cameron County area.

Among actual job listings for the Texas, the Number One Top Job (most listings) in June was Physical Therapist, likely to continue through 2012, coincidentally the end of President Barack Obama's first term in office and the end of the Economic Stimulus Package of 2009. In fact, more physical therapists were needed in Texas than anywhere else in America and the cities of Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio express the highest demands.

1. Education & Health Services - Most actual top job listings in South Texas are falling into the top two-to-four categories in this list, primarily Healthcare.
2. Health Care & Social Assistance
3. Educational Services
4. Ambulatory Health Care Services
5. Elementary and Secondary Schools
6. Home Health Care Services
7. Government
8. Travel and Tourism: Accommodations and Food Services
9. Restaurants of all levels, and Taverns
10. Freight Transport and General Freight Trucking

Hildalgo County lists the largest number of job openings online, found by Indeed.com across 1000s of job sites.

1. RNs - Nurses in Telemetry, ER, CCU, Pediatrics, ICU, PCCU
2. LPNs, LVNs - Licensed Practial and Vocational Nurses
3. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) at McAllen Medical Center
4. Physical Therapists
5. Independent Beauty Consultants
6. Occupational Therapists
7. Staff Pharmacists

1. Directors of Pharmacy
2. Retail Store Managers
3. OT NH "Travel the country on Us!" - Travel employment with higher pay and benefits with The Job Cure.
4. Assistant Managers
5. Physicians/Doctors - GP and Specialties
6. Nurse Technicians
7. Cust Service & Problem Resolution Rep II
8. Physical Therapist
9. Patient Services Technicians
10. Occupational Therapists
11. LVN - Med./Surgical/Oncological

Zapata County is very interesting, because it contains no incorporated cities or towns and its land did not become part of Texas until 1848. However, Zapata is also the name of the community that is the county seat. Not a city or a town, it is called a census-designated place. While not large, it holds the global record for the greatest number of hang-gliding records broken every year from 2000 - 2009.

There are few job openigns in Zapata City or County. but the area draws tourists as a growing Tex-Mex border community on Lake Falcon near the Rio Grand. The historic Downtown area features several historcal buildings preserved by the county government, along with a large plaza.Falcon State Park also draws travelers and several movies have been filmed against the town's Mexican and Spanish architecture. Zapata is also known as a place in which many northerners spend the winters.

Named after a Texas Governor, Jim Hogg County also has no incorporated places. Hebbronville is the census-designated place that serves as county seat. Few jobs are available in this county, as in Zapata. Its historical significance uis that it is named after James Hebbron who purchased one of the first ranches ever started in the area.

Rio Grande City is the county seat of Starr County, offering around 100 job opening, far fewer than the leaders, Hidalgo, Webb, and Cameron Counties. While comparatively fewer jobs, these 100+ represent a marked increase over those available June-July 2008 through March 2009.

The leading job listings in the Rio Grande City area include:

1. Independent Avon and Other Beauty Consultants
2. Physical Therapy Assistants
3. General Managers
4. Staff Pharmacists
5. Cooks
6. Assistant Managers
7. Retail Project Merchandisers
8. RNs - Registered Nurses and LVNs: Licensed Vocational Nurses
9. Occupational Therapy Assistants
10. Shift Supervisors