Kingsville EDC

The cluster of small communities in the Coastal Bend region of South Texas, augments Kingsville's labor force and results in a large labor pool of easily trained workers with an outstanding record of low turnover and high productivity. Kingsville and Kleberg County are relatively union-free.

The community utilizes various business incentives and job training programs to develop its workforce. One example is the Smart Jobs Fund, which increases the competitiveness of Texas businesses in the global economy. The Smart Jobs Fund provides grants to employers to train their employees. The program is "employer-driven", meaning that the employer determines the level of training needed for the company's work force.

Kingsville Area Top 10 Employers:

Company
Product/Services
# of Employees

% of Total City Employment

Naval Air Station Kingsville
Military Training Base
1,813

14.43%

Texas A&M Kingsville
State University
1,225

9.75%

Kingsville ISD Public Education 683 5.44%

Wal Mart Retail 334 2.66%

Celanese Chemicals/Plastics 321 2.55%

Christus Spohn Kleberg Hospital Medical 316 2.51%

King Ranch Cattle Ranch 314 2.5%

Kleberg County County 275 2.19%

City of Kingsville City 252 2.0%

H-E-B Corporation Grocery 200 1.6%

Kingsville is the home of Texa s A&M University-Kingsville, a part of the Texas A & M University System. This university and the EDC have forged a partnership which allows its special research and development capabilities to be available to assist new and existing industries to identify solutions to problems in a constantly dynamic economic environment. At TAMUK, the Center for Distance Learning and Continuing Education's mission is to support the efforts of the institution to develop well-rounded leaders and critical thinkers who can solve problems in an increasingly complex, dynamic and global society.

In addition, Coastal Bend College, a local community college, has worked with the EDC to develop training programs in child care services, nursing, and the building trades. It is the mission of the Coastal Bend College Continuing Education Department to provide non-credit workforce and avocational education opportunities.

Kleberg County Labor Market:

2001 Annual Average

2003 Annual Average

2005 Annual Average

March 2006 Average
2007 Annual Average

Working Force

11,808

13,126

15,778

16,610
12,566

Unemployed

599

845

868

778
534

Percent Unemployed

4.8%

6.0%

5.2%

4.5%
4.0%

2006

Average Wage Per Job
$29,116

Total Wages
$551,623

Source: Texas Workforce Commission, Workforce One, Area Employers