I think the answer is far simpler. Texas is an increasingly hostile state to live in, and tech workers are taking an opportunity to live in states that aren't.

I think the answer is far simpler. Texas is an increasingly hostile state to live in, and tech workers are taking an opportunity to live in states that aren't. That's what I did; the moment I got a full remote job I left Austin in 2022 and didn't look back, nor do I even think about applying towards companies in that area. It's not just the state politics that make it hostile, but the shifting climate and refusal of Texas to prepare for these events as well. I was essentially snowed into my apartment during the freeze in 2021 and had about a solid week before I could go anywhere or places started opening up again. I was among the lucky few that still had power too, many of my coworkers lost power for up to a week. Before that point I was already iffy on sticking around, but that event accelerated things massively.