Industries with the highest employment in Kansas City

Written by:
February 25, 2021
Updated on February 26, 2021
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Industries with the highest employment in Kansas City

The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the U.S. economy, with unemployment peaking at , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While jobs have been gaining since, millions of out-of-work Americans are still searching for jobs.

Before COVID-19 gutted the economy, the United States' economic landscape was , with health care, computer systems design, and scientific industries leading a push for more employment. On the flip side, industries like wired telecommunications, postal service, and textile production are showing a rapid decline. With the development of newer and more advanced technologies every day, the job landscape is shifting and so are the pay demands and prerequisite skills. There is a strong correlation between advanced education and a higher salary鈥攚orkers with higher education levels have higher wages and lower unemployment rates. Of course, it should be noted that obstacles remain for universal access to quality higher education.

compiled a list of industries with the highest employment in Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area using data from . Industries are ranked by number of employees as of 2019.

Keep reading to see which industries in Kansas City are the surest bets for employment.

#19. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 780 (0.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +13.7%

National
- Employed: 799,011
- Percent of total employment: 0.5%
- #19 most common industry nationwide

#18. Management of companies and enterprises

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 1,420 (0.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +71.5%

National
- Employed: 232,031
- Percent of total employment: 0.1%
- #20 most common industry nationwide

#17. Utilities

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 6,071 (0.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -21.3%

National
- Employed: 1,272,369
- Percent of total employment: 0.8%
- #18 most common industry nationwide

#16. Real estate and rental and leasing

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 19,095 (1.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -0.4%

National
- Employed: 3,034,330
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #15 most common industry nationwide

#15. Information

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 22,937 (2.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -26.0%

National
- Employed: 2,959,616
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #16 most common industry nationwide

#14. Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 24,099 (2.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +18.4%

National
- Employed: 3,532,697
- Percent of total employment: 2.2%
- #14 most common industry nationwide

#13. Wholesale trade

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 33,641 (3.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -2.5%

National
- Employed: 4,013,368
- Percent of total employment: 2.5%
- #13 most common industry nationwide

#12. Administrative and support and waste management services

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 45,682 (4.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -3.4%

National
- Employed: 6,766,918
- Percent of total employment: 4.3%
- #12 most common industry nationwide

#11. Public administration

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 47,655 (4.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +1.3%

National
- Employed: 7,140,292
- Percent of total employment: 4.5%
- #11 most common industry nationwide

#10. Other services, except public administration

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 49,338 (4.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +6.7%

National
- Employed: 7,584,054
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #9 most common industry nationwide

#9. Transportation and warehousing

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 64,096 (5.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +43.6%

National
- Employed: 7,665,636
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #8 most common industry nationwide

#8. Finance and insurance

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 73,471 (6.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +14.2%

National
- Employed: 7,263,440
- Percent of total employment: 4.6%
- #10 most common industry nationwide

#7. Construction

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 75,784 (6.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +30.0%

National
- Employed: 11,036,894
- Percent of total employment: 7.0%
- #7 most common industry nationwide

#6. Accommodation and food services

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 75,840 (6.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +15.3%

National
- Employed: 11,801,878
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #5 most common industry nationwide

#5. Educational services

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 86,995 (7.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +0.9%

National
- Employed: 14,839,461
- Percent of total employment: 9.3%
- #4 most common industry nationwide

#4. Manufacturing

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 99,800 (9.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +3.0%

National
- Employed: 15,770,698
- Percent of total employment: 9.9%
- #3 most common industry nationwide

#3. Professional, scientific, and technical services

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 103,323 (9.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +44.5%

National
- Employed: 11,765,340
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #6 most common industry nationwide

#2. Retail trade

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 119,150 (10.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +5.7%

National
- Employed: 17,216,634
- Percent of total employment: 10.8%
- #2 most common industry nationwide

#1. Health care and social assistance

Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area
- Employed: 158,034 (14.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +21.4%

National
- Employed: 22,131,751
- Percent of total employment: 13.9%
- #1 most common industry nationwide

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