Manufacturing is one of the largest industries by employment in Kilgore, with more than 23% of the workforce employed in the goods-producing sector. The sector is driven by a strength in skilled trades and workers that have clear skill transferability to other machine operator and metalworking occupations. 

Manufacturing employment is concentrated in four industries: fabricated metal products, primary metals, machinery, and chemicals. Occupational strengths include a highly skilled workforce with a large number of skilled welders, machinists, production workers and machine operators.