This paper analyzes Houston Metropolitan Region's economic performance during the great recession from a regional economic and public policy perspective. Using labor and economic output data in shift-share analysis, our analysis focuses on sub-regional and sectoral components of this region's much discussed success story. Through a series of questions relating to both pre- and post-recession time periods, the paper explores recent changes to the region's economic structure from a socioeconomic perspective. The paper derives policy lessons for other metropolitan regions around the country, in particular those that face similar sets of challenges as Houston.