work life

Dallas logs on as one of best U.S. metros for remote workers in 2023, Forbes says

Daily commute: about 30 seconds from the bedroom to the office.

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With many companies encouraging - or commanding - remote workers to return to the office in 2023, more and more Americans are seeking employment opportunities that will give them the freedom to work elsewhere.

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington is (remotely) clocking in as the No. 15 best metro area for remote workers in 2023, according to a new study by Forbes Advisor. And that'll probably only get better in this booming Texas region.

The study examined 100 U.S. cities and metro areas, and ranked them based on the earning potential of remote workers, internet access, lifestyle amenities, worker friendliness, living costs, and more.

Reliable wifi during office hours and having great lifestyle amenities are perhaps a remote worker's most important toolset. Flexible workdays coupled with the wide variety of recreational activities around the city earned Dallas No. 4 in the category for "cities with the best access to arts, entertainment, and dining establishments."

Dallas was the only Texas city to make it into the top five in the entertainment access category, with Houston falling behind in No. 8.

While Dallas-Fort-Worth Arlington tied with Wichita, Kansas for the No. 15 spot, the Metroplex reigns as the second-best metro area in Texas for remote workers, behind San Antonio-New Braunfels (No. 6). Surrounding Dallas suburbs like Frisco and Plano have been high on similar lists in the past.

"Remote work saves workers time and money on commuting and office clothing, while keeping their morale and productivity levels high," the report said. "Ideally, you’d live in a place with an affordable cost of living, high earning potential, reliable internet connection, low taxes, a low unemployment rate, and various entertainment options."

Elsewhere in Texas, Austin-Round Rock fell way behind on the overall ranking into No. 39. Surprisingly, Houston (No. 49) barely made it into the top 50, outranked by El Paso (No. 46). McAllen-Edinburg-Mission ranked No. 85.

The top 15 U.S. metro areas for remote workers are:

No. 1 – Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida
No. 2 – Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Indiana
No. 3 – Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska-Iowa
No. 4 – Tulsa, Oklahoma
No. 5 – Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Michigan
No. 6 – San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas
No. 7 – Jacksonville, Florida
No. 8 – Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
No. 9 – Tucson, Arizona
No. 10 – Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio
No. 11 – Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas
No. 12 – Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida
No. 13 – Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, South Carolina
No. 14 – Rochester, New York
No. 15 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington and Wichita, Kansas (tied)

The study can be found on forbes.com.

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Workplace accolades

6 Dallas retailers and restaurants make Time's best private companies list

Half Price Books presents Dallas Antiquarian Book Fair

Photo courtesy of Half Price Books

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Six Dallas-area brands in the retail, restaurant and hotel industries appear in Time magazine’s first-ever ranking of the best privately owned companies in the U.S.

At No. 69, the highest-ranked DFW-based brand among retail, restaurant and hotel companies on the list is Farmers Branch-based eyewear retailer Eyemart Express, which operates more than 270 stores nationwide. VSP Vision acquired Eyemart Express last year. Optometrist Dr. Doug Barnes founded Eyemart Express in 1990.

“Like VSP, Eyemart Express is a doctor-founded organization with similar values and a shared commitment to expanding access to affordable, high-quality eye care and eyewear to as many people as possible,” Michael Guyette, president and CEO of VP Vision, said last year.

Guyette is an alumnus of the University of North Texas in Denton.

Time teamed up with data provider Statista to launch the inaugural ranking of the country’s 500 best private companies. Rankings are based on employee satisfaction surveys along with a company’s impact on society, knowledge, health, and the environment.

Other DFW companies on the list are:

No. 127 Half Price Books, the Dallas-based bookstore chain.
No. 160 The Container Store, based in Coppell. Bed Bath & Beyond recently acquired The Container Store, which sells home organization products, for about $150 million.
No. 162 Uncle Julio’s, the Irving-based Mexican restaurant chain.
No. 377 Mary Kay, an Addison-based seller of cosmetics, skin care products, and body care products.
No. 439 TRT Holdings, the Dallas-based owner of the Omni Hotels & Resorts chain.

While not based in DFW, these businesses on the list should be familiar to Texans:

No. 75 H-E-B, the San Antonio-based grocery chain.
No. 141 Visionworks, the San Antonio-based chain of eyewear stores.
No. 165 Taco Cabana, the San Antonio-based Tex-Mex restaurant chain.
No. 198 Buc-ee’s, the Lake Jackson-based operator of mega-convenience stores.
No. 285 Blue Bell Creameries, the Brenham-based ice cream company.
No. 418 Whataburger, the San Antonio-based fast-food restaurant chain.
No. 447 Joe’s Crab Shack, the Houston-based seafood restaurant chain.
No. 491 Tailored Brands, the Houston-based owner of the Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank and K&G Fashion Superstore menswear chains.

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