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 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 15.2% from 2000 to 2008, or 26,549 people. The latest workforce trends can be viewed in on our Economic Trends page.
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 |
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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 |
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The Census Bureau also estimates that approximately 8.7% of the total workforce is bilingual.
 |
Company Name |
Product/Service |
Employees† |
| Trinity Mother Frances* |
Medical Care |
3,652 |
| East Texas Medical Center* |
Medical Care |
3,650 |
| Tyler Independent School District |
Education |
2,501 |
| Brookshire Grocery Company* |
Grocery Distribution |
2,213 |
| The Trane Co.* |
Air Conditioning Units |
1,949 |
| Wal-Mart |
Retail |
1,697 |
| Suddenlink* |
Cable, Internet, & Phone |
1,138 |
| City of Tyler |
Government |
890 |
| CB&I |
Engineering Contracting |
853 |
| Smith County |
Government |
808 |
| Target Distribution Center |
Retail Distribution |
700 |
| Carrier Corporation |
Air Conditioning Units |
659 |
| Tyler Junior College |
Education |
586 |
| UT Health Center at Tyler |
Medical Care/Research |
580 |
| The University of Texas at Tyler |
Education |
568 |
| Southside Bank* |
Banking Services |
505 |
| John Soules Foods |
USDA Meat Processing |
450 |
| Tyler Pipe |
Cast Iron Pipe, Iron Fittings |
388 |
| Loggins Meat Company, Inc. |
Meat Packing |
230 |
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The following graphs show workforce trends for the City of Tyler, Smith County/Tyler MSA, the State of Texas and the United States.
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. The values are annual monthly averages from the Texas Workforce Commission.
The Tyler/Smith County economy is more diverse today than it has ever been. We are no longer dependent on one or two drivers for economic support. The pie chart below details the Tyler MSA employment by business sector.
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