Waco's Workforce

Workforce Demographics

Waco has a diverse labor force of over 110,000. The January 2005 unemployment rate of 5.4% remained below the State and National average. Additionally, less than two percent of Waco’s workforce is affiliated with a union. As a result, Waco has reasonable labor costs, averaging $13.85 an hour, well below larger metro areas. The labor force in Waco is not only affordable, but also plentiful. According to the Heart of Texas Workforce Center, more than 1,340 applications were received for the 250 positions available at the Wal-Mart Stores Returns Center that opened in May of 2004. Waco is a regional employer attracting workers from six surrounding counties- population 700,000.