Jobs were good, but lots of people move somewhere for work. I know people who moved to the miserable (according to them) tundra in Canada for super well paying oil jobs, but they didn't want to move there because of the tundra, but because of the jobs. Calculated decision. Many people "want" a high paying, stable job and thus move somewhere because of that.
Anecdotally, I spent two decades in Houston and have a pretty good feel for it. It has many redeeming qualities and will always have a place in my heart, but most people I talk to find the flatness, lack of seasons, and oppressive heat to be too much of downsides to "want" to live there. I don't think I have ever met anyone ever who moved to Houston because they wanted to move to Houston in the same way people move to Florida or San Diego or Denver because they want to move to those places.