Occupation and Employment
| Civilian Labor Force |
2009 |
2009 Female |
2009 Male |
2014 Projection |
2014 Female |
2014 Male |
| % Employed | 93.9 | 94.43 | ||||
| % Unemployed | 6.08 | 5.54 | ||||
| % in Labor Force | 61.06 | 61.37 | ||||
| Employed | 40,391 | 49,931 | 40,394 | 50,876 | ||
| Unemployed | 2,644 | 3,023 | 2,308 | 3,048 |
Source: Sites on Texas; the Kilgore Labor market commute area consists of all or part of the following counties: Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Panola, Rusk, Smith, Upshur and Wood
The Kilgore region has a number of underemployed workers that can be utilized for new job creation. A study conducted by PFResources indicates that there are approximately 21,000 “underemployed” people in the region. Of these individuals, nearly 30% have some college and 20% have earned college degrees. Sixty-nine percent of those determined underemployed fell in the 18-40-age range.
In a separate study conducted by Dr. Marilyn Young, professor of management in the College of Business and Management at The University of Texas at Tyler, found that with hidden unemployment, the Kilgore area unemployment rate is 16.2%. By including the number of those who are employed but willing to change jobs, the rate grows to 42%.
The area workforce is heavily concentrated in the manufacturing, services, and trade sectors. Manufacturing and the warehouse/distribution employment accounts for 20% of all jobs in the labor force. A highly skilled labor force contributes to this area’s high manufacturing base with more than 200 manufacturers in a 40-mile radius. Of the major manufacturing companies in this area, 31% are involved in machinery manufacturing and 24% in fabricated metal products manufacturing.
*Represented by ten or more companies in area
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