The combined 12-county Kilgore Labor Draw boasts a workforce of more than 325,000. The share of workers commuting to the county from more than 50 miles has increased steadily over the past decade, with manufacturing being one of the sectors with the largest gain in workers.
Largest Sectors
Healthcare and Social Assistance, Retail Trade, and Manufacturing are the largest individual industry sectors in the Kilgore Labor Draw. But when viewed collectively, Kilgore’s goods-producing workforce is a defining strength.
Twenty-three percent of the labor force is employed in goods-producing sectors, exceeding both state and national averages. This includes workers across manufacturing, construction, natural resources, mining, oil and gas, and other industrial fields — many with aligned, transferable skills that support modern production environments.
For manufacturers and industrial employers, Kilgore offers a workforce with real-world experience, technical familiarity, and the work ethic needed to succeed from day one.
Surging Employment Levels & Growth
Gregg County has a unique composition relative to the regional, state, and national economies. Though Healthcare tops the industry list, the next largest industries in terms of the county's job base are part of the goods producing sector at 23%, which is well above regional, state and national levels.
After office and administrative support occupations, one of the largest occupations groups in the region are transportation and material moving occupations. Included in the major groups with the largest location quotients in the region are construction and production occupations.
