We’re Hiring: 4 Growing Industries in Abilene, TX
Discover some of Abilene’s thriving sectors.
Looking for a rewarding career? Allow us to introduce you to Abilene, a West Texas city that’s home to several diverse industries. Sure, the area has its longtime anchors — farming and ranching — but over time, they’ve been joined by everything from health care and education to insurance, manufacturing and information technology. Plus, the Abilene region is home to Dyess Air Force Base, which continues to be both the city’s largest employer and economic engine.
Thanks to Abilene’s various sectors, everyone is sure to find a career here that will match their skills and tastes. And the best news? These industries continue to flourish, which means more available jobs. Ahead, discover four industries that are growing in Abilene.
In This Article
1. Health Care + Education
Abilene boasts a world-class presence across the health care continuum, from a solid network of hospitals and facilities to cancer research taking place at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The school continues to draw students to its graduate programs as well as secure funding from the National Institutes of Health as well as other organizations, thanks to its research.
“We receive millions of dollars in funding, and so we have become a great investment here in Abilene,” says Dr. Sanjay Srivastava, who serves as a distinguished professor, chairman of the Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology and director of the Graduate Biotechnology Program. “Our (biotechnology) graduate program is growing quickly — we began in 2019 with six students and have now tripled that. We are bringing talent from distinguished universities here to study, and then holding that talent here so that all these bright minds stay and continue their work in Abilene.”
Research currently underway includes gene studies to determine how someone becomes resistant to chemotherapy drugs; the repurposing of non-cancer drugs for cancer therapy; immunotherapy to suppress the growth of tumors; the use of bacteria and viruses as cancer-fighting agents; and the use of 3D printers to recreate and mimic different types of real tumors.
Benefiting from this influx of knowledge is Hendrick Health a nonprofit health care institution offering quality health care services. Hendrick is actively recruiting nurses and other medical professionals to help serve their rural 24-county service area.
2. Life Insurance + Financial Services
Also seeing growth in Abilene is Directors Investment Group (DIG), a parent company for a diverse group of businesses that focus on life insurance and financial services. Together, DIG offers a variety of services to funeral homes across the country.
The company began in 1981, when Funeral Directors Life Insurance Co. was born out of the pioneering spirit of its founders – four West Texas funeral directors led by Bill Seale. In 1985, Seale’s son, Kris, then a recent graduate of Baylor University, joined the company. By 1990, Funeral Directors Life Insurance was included on Inc. magazine’s 500 fastest-growing privately held companies list, having grown 783% over a five-year period. In 1993, DIG was founded as a holding company to bring together current and future business ventures.
“For national companies like DIG, there could be a lot of reasons why it would make sense to be in a large metropolitan area. However, there is nothing like Abilene, the Big Country and West Central Texas,” says Jeff Stewart, executive vice president and chief culture officer for Funeral Directors Life Insurance. “We are blessed to live and work here. Our family of companies are fortunate to have a workforce in this area primarily comprised of people with family and Christian-based values. It means the world to us to have people with good hearts who believe in caring for others and going the extra mile for others!”
3. Manufacturing
Abilene’s employers get things done – and get things made. A prime example is Great Lakes Cheese, which is expanding its packaging operations with a new state-of-the-art facility. This will add almost 300,000 square feet to Great Lakes’ current footprint, according to the company.
Other employers thriving in this industry include AbiMar Foods, which has been producing baked goods in Abilene since 1992; Tige Boats and its full line of aquatic pleasure craft; and Hartmann’s Inc., a woman-owned business with a worldwide consumer base for its high-quality machined parts.
4. Information Technology
For those who want to dive into the always-evolving world of information technology, there’s no better place than Datroo Technologies. This solutions-oriented provider has a rapidly expanding customer footprint, and it is bringing enthusiastic IT professionals to Abilene every day.
“Abilene is a great location. Being between several larger Texas cities and providing access to a growing workforce, we are able to serve clients all across the United States,” says Ryan Kana, vice president of Datroo Technologies. “By partnering with the local universities and technical schools, we have developed a sort of incubator to produce quality candidates to help meet the fast-changing demands of the technology field. We also have been able to offer enterprise-level work for those looking to get out of the bigger cities and still continue to grow their skill sets.”
Here’s what Datroo employees are saying about Abilene:
- “Abilene is a great place to settle down. It is relatively small but has everything you need without the crazy traffic.”
— Bailey - “The cost of living is comparably cheap, and it still having the ‘small-town feel’ but offering a wide range of services is a plus.” — Mark
- “Abilene is a great city to live in. Good school districts and just quiet enough to relax, and no traffic jams. There are a lot of good restaurants, as well. There are plenty of parks around for the kids.” — James
This article was sponsored by the Abilene Regional Growth Alliance, a division of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. The Abilene Chamber is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian organization that advocates for pro-business policies that create jobs and grow our economy.
