WORKFORCE

The Tyler Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes all of Smith County.  The MSA population increased 15.5% from 1990 to 2000 (151,309 to 174,728).  The Census Bureau estimates the population has increased 9.8% from 2000 to 2005, or 15,866 people. The latest workforce trends can be viewed in on our Economic Trends page.

WHERE SMITH COUNTY RESIDENTS WORK

According to the 2000 Census, 90.1% of Smith County residents work within Smith County - the remaining 9.1% work in surrounding counties with the largest percentage (2.4%) working in Gregg County.

County Labor Force % Smith 68,700 90.1 Gregg 1,819 2.4 Cherokee 1,134 1.5 Dallas 616 0.8 Rusk 499 0.7 Wood 485 0.6 Henderson 416 0.5 Anderson 385 0.5 Van Zandt 363 0.5 Upshur 176 0.2

WHERE SMITH COUNTY WORKERS RESIDE

Among all employees working in Smith County, 81.0% actually live in Smith County. Having the largest concentration of jobs in East Texas, Smith County draws a large percentage, 19.0%, of its labor force from surrounding counties.

County Labor Force % Smith 68,700 81.0 Henderson 3,715 4.4 Cherokee 2,464 2.9 Van Zandt 2,262 2.7 Wood 1,928 2.3 Gregg 1,498 1.8 Rusk 913 1.1 Upshur 836 1.0 Anderson 647 0.8 Harrison 239 0.3

LARGEST EMPLOYERS

Company Name Product/Service Employees† East Texas Medical Center* Medical Care 3,650 Trinity Mother Frances* Medical Care 3,522 Tyler Independent School District Education 2,566 Trane Co.* Air Conditioning Units 2,112 Brookshire Grocery Company* Grocery Distribution 1,888 Wal-Mart Retail 1,297 Carrier Corporation Air Conditioning Units 1,202 Suddenlink* Cable, Internet Services, and Phone 1,033 UT Health Center at Tyler Medical Care/Research 860 The University of Texas at Tyler Education 857 Tyler Junior College Education 825 Tyler Pipe Cast Iron Pipe, Iron Fittings 783 City of Tyler Government 765 Smith County Government 725 Target Distribution Center Retail Distribution 700 CB&I Engineering Contracting 692 John Soules Foods USDA Meat Processing 460 Southside Bank* Banking Services 452 Loggins Meat Company, Inc. Meat Packing 300 † Full-time equivalents * Company has headquarters in Tyler, TX

WAGES

Texas is a right to work state. Tyler employers report high productivity and an excellent work ethic from their employees.

Position National Texas Tyler Accountant/Auditor   $ 60,670   $ 58,510   $ 59,210 Production Occupation   $ 30,480   $ 28,570   $ 28,490 Bookkeeper/Accounting/Audit Clerk   $ 31,780   $ 29,790   $ 27,350 Chief Executive  $144,600  $146,990  $132,650 Computer Programmer   $ 69,500   $ 70,760   $ 57,700 Customer Service Representative   $ 30,400   $ 27,470   $ 25,810 Electrical Engineer   $ 78,900   $ 87,430   $ 64,670 Electrician   $ 46,620   $ 37,820   $ 33,300 Executive Secretary/Admin. Asst.   $ 39,160   $ 37,010   $ 34,320 General/Operations Manager   $ 99,280   $ 96,540   $ 86,100 Janitor   $ 21,730   $ 17,650   $ 17,550 Loan Officer   $ 61,930   $ 63,560   $ 73,410 Machinist   $ 32,820   $ 30,470   $ 32,440 Middle School Teacher   $ 49,470   $ 43,540   $ 34,850 Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter   $ 45,830   $ 37,910   $ 39,640 Registered Nurse   $ 59,730   $ 57,180   $ 52,150 Shipping Clerk   $ 27,480   $ 25,120   $ 23,640 Truck Driver/Light   $ 27,520   $ 25,430   $ 24,370 Welder/Cutter/Solderer/Brazer   $ 32,880   $ 30,530   $ 29,680 SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics

WORKFORCE & UNEMPLOYMENT TRENDS

The following graphs show workforce trends for the City of Tyler,  Smith County/Tyler MSA, the State of Texas and the United States.

TOTAL WORKFORCE & UNEMPLOYMENT
City of Tyler

Source: Texas Workforce Commission (Annual Monthly Average; reformatted 2004 forward)

TOTAL WORKFORCE & UNEMPLOYMENT
Smith County/ Tyler MSA

Source: Texas Workforce Commission (Annual Monthly Average; reformatted 2000 forward)

TOTAL WORKFORCE & UNEMPLOYMENT
State of Texas

Source: Texas Workforce Commission (Annual Monthly Average)

TOTAL WORKFORCE & UNEMPLOYMENT
United States

Source: Texas Workforce Commission (Annual Monthly Average)

WORKFORCE TRENDS BY SECTOR

A “primary employer” is a company that sells the majority of its product and/or service to markets outside the regional economy, thereby funneling those new dollars into the local economy. The inbound revenue generated by primary businesses will support another one to two jobs in the larger retail and service sector. The graphs below show the diversity and trends of all the employment sectors:

SMITH COUNTY/TYLER MSA
Non-farm and Private

Source:  Texas Workforce Commission (Annual Monthly Average)