According to Xometry platform data, Texas manufacturing employment grew at approximately twice the average rate of its nationwide partner network in 2026. Roles requiring industry certifications such as AS9100D, ISO 9001, and ITAR are valued at 3.4 times more annually than non-certified roles. Buyers in aerospace, defense, and energy sectors are increasingly shifting to Texas’s manufacturing base to meet domestic sourcing requirements. With over 25,000 manufacturing enterprises, Texas is the second-largest manufacturing economy in the U.S., encompassing capabilities in precision machining, CNC, sheet metal, and injection molding. Over the past year, 11 Texas cities accounted for approximately 81% of the total manufacturing job value on the platform statewide, with El Paso and Houston together representing 51%. A Xometry senior vice president of global operations noted that Texas is not just keeping pace with national manufacturing growth but leading it. For the metal powder industry, suppliers serving Texas manufacturers must prioritize certifications like AS9100D to gain access amid the “certification premium” trend.