Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan Explores Austin’s Tech Boom and Workforce Development
Dallas Federal Reserve President Lorie Logan recently visited Austin, Texas, to assess the city’s thriving technology sector and its impact on the regional economy. The visit, part of Logan’s “Listening in 360” engagement series, focused on understanding the factors driving Austin’s growth and the challenges and opportunities facing its workforce. Logan’s 2026 voting membership on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will be informed by these insights.
Austin’s Tech Sector: A Hub for Innovation
Austin has emerged as a significant innovation hub, attracting talent and fostering collaboration across the high-tech industry. During her visit on March 4, 2026, Logan met with leaders from Dell Technologies and Apptronik, two companies at the forefront of technological advancement.
Dell Technologies is developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology and infrastructure for commercial applications, recognizing the need for partnerships to drive innovation. As Shelley Heburn, a senior principal systems development engineer at Dell, stated, “AI is not something you aim for to do on your own. You need to locate someone to support you with it and to make your idea even better.”
Apptronik, a robotics company with roots at the University of Texas and NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is building general-use robots designed to support human workers. Co-Founder and CEO Jeff Cardenas highlighted Texas’s favorable position in the robotics industry, citing the state’s universities, supportive stakeholders, and established track record in technology and innovation. “Texas is exceptionally well-positioned for robotics,” he said.
Workforce Development at Austin Community College
Logan likewise toured the Innovative Manufacturing Partnerships Accelerating Central Texas (IMPACT) Lab at Austin Community College (ACC) and spoke with students about their experiences. ACC is reimagining higher education by aligning programs with industry needs and removing financial barriers to access, offering free tuition and childcare to local students.
ACC’s curriculum is evolving to meet the demands of a changing job market, with a shift from traditional manufacturing to robotics and automation. As one leader noted, “the function of the future is not going to be the work of the past.” The college emphasizes the transferability of skills, noting that the technology and lessons learned can apply to various industries, including oil and gas and healthcare.
ACC faces the challenge of attracting students to technical fields, as high schools increasingly offer specialized career tracks at earlier ages.
Austin’s Strong Labor Market and Economic Outlook
Austin’s labor market continues to outperform both the state of Texas and the national average. In December, the city’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, lower than the state rate of 4.3 percent and the national rate of 4.4 percent. Both high-tech employment and total employment are growing at a faster pace in Austin than in Silicon Valley.
Logan Addresses Asset Managers at Derivatives Forum
During her visit, President Logan delivered remarks at the Asset Managers Derivatives Forum, hosted by the Futures Industry Association (FIA) and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association’s Asset Management Group. She shared her economic outlook and current policy stance, followed by a moderated conversation with Walt Lukken, CEO of FIA.
President Logan’s visit underscores the Dallas Fed’s commitment to understanding the economic dynamics of the Eleventh Federal Reserve District, which includes Texas, northern Louisiana, and southern New Mexico.