Workforce & Employment

Explore labor force trends, employment characteristics, workforce demographics, educational attainment, and commuting patterns that help define Rusk County's workforce. These data provide businesses, developers, and community leaders with valuable insight into the people who power the local economy.

Labor Force Breakdown

The labor force consists of residents who are employed or actively seeking employment, while the remaining civilian population is not participating in the labor force. The figures below provide a snapshot of Rusk County's workforce composition.

Civilian Population (16+)

11,703

Labor Force

5,776

Employed

5,538

Not in Labor Force

5,927

Unemployed

238

Labor Force Summary

49.4% Labor Force Participation

50.6% Not in Labor Force

95.9% Employment Rate within the Labor Force

4.1% Unemployment Rate

Employment by Industry

The distribution below represents the percentage of employed residents working within each major industry sector in Rusk County.

Manufacturing

24.7%

Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance

20.8%

Retail Trade

12.3%

Construction

8.4%

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting & Mining

6.5%

Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities

6.3%

Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative & Waste Management

4.4%

Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation & Food Services

4.4%

Other Industries

3.7%

Public Administration

3.4%

Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental & Leasing

2.4%

Wholesale Trade

1.4%

Information

1.4%

Educational Attainment

Educational attainment provides insight into the educational profile of Rusk County's adult population and the qualifications of the local workforce.

43.2%

High School Diploma

Residents whose highest completed level of education is a high school diploma.

13.5%

Associate Degree

Residents who have completed an associate degree from a college or technical institution.

12.5%

Bachelor's Degree

Residents who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

High School

Associate

Bachelor's+

Commuting Patterns

Commuting patterns illustrate where employed residents work, providing insight into regional workforce movement and employment connections within and beyond Rusk County.

70.7%

Work Within Rusk County

Approximately seven out of every ten employed residents both live and work within Rusk County.

27.7%

Commute Outside Rusk County

Just over one-quarter of employed residents travel outside the county for work, reflecting regional employment connections.

Annual Earnings

Annual earnings provide additional context regarding income levels among employed residents in Rusk County.

$49,589

Median Annual Earnings

The median represents the midpoint of annual earnings, meaning half of workers earn more and half earn less.

$56,402

Mean Annual Earnings

The mean represents the average annual earnings across all employed workers.

Median and mean earnings are presented together to provide a more complete picture of annual earnings among employed residents in Rusk County.

Data Sources

The information presented throughout this dashboard is compiled from publicly available datasets and regional planning resources. Statistics are intended to provide a current overview of workforce and employment conditions within Rusk County.

U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2024)

Primary source for workforce, employment, commuting characteristics, educational attainment, and annual earnings.

ACS Table S2405 — Industry by Occupation

https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2024.S2405?g=050XX00US55107

ACS Table S0801 — Commuting Characteristics

https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2024.S0801?g=050XX00US55107

ACS Earnings Tables

https://data.census.gov/table?q=wages&g=050XX00US55107

Northwest Regional Planning Commission

Rusk County Economy Overview

https://www.nwrpc.com/DocumentCenter/View/673/Rusk_Economy_Overview?bidId=

Disclaimer: Workforce and employment statistics are updated periodically as new data become available from their respective sources. Figures shown on this page represent the most recent data available at the time of publication and are intended for informational and economic development purposes.