Southeast Kansas and Regional Employment
The majority of the work force for the industrial park is drawn from a nine county area, made up of six counties in Kansas and three in Oklahoma. The Available labor pool is estimated to be about 22% of the total population and totals about 44, 800 individuals. The unemployment rate for this area averages 5.03%. The average age of the available labor pool is 42 with at least 25.4% having a Bachelor Degree or above and 64.7% some college and 95.4% having at least a high school diploma. These figures illustrate the move of midlife professionals from the cities back to a more rural life style.
Average weekly wages in the area ranged from a low in Labette Co. of $478 to $523 in Neosho Co. The highest wages were in the transportation and mining sectors that averaged about $705 weekly; management – $685; professional and technical services – $638; wholesale trade – $630; manufacturing – $627; and construction – $611.
- Available Labor Pool is defined as:
- Currently unemployed but actively looking for employment.
- Currently employed but actively looking for new employment.
- Currently not working but would consider the right opportunity.
- Currently working and not looking but would consider the right opportunity.