Labor Market

Regional Overview

The West Central Texas Workforce Development Area is a predominantly rural region comprised of 19 counties:

  • Brown
  • Callahan
  • Coleman
  • Comanche
  • Eastland
  • Fisher
  • Haskell
  • Jones
  • Kent
  • Knox
  • Mitchell
  • Nolan
  • Runnels
  • Scurry
  • Shackelford
  • Stephens
  • Stonewall
  • Taylor
  • Throckmorton

The region covers over 17,000 square miles with a population of more than 330,000 and an active labor force of approximately 150,000. The map shown to the right contains tabs with information regarding population, labor force, and median household income data for each county. Additional data surrounding demographics details and educational attainment levels for each county can be found in the table below, as well as trends around job growth, wages, and unemployment information for each county.

Data Source: JobsEQ, Data as of November 2025

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Industry Snapshot

Identifying viable career pathways for students and job seekers requires careful analysis of all relevant and available labor market information and data from various sources. The starting point in the identification of existing direct and indirect pathways begins with a breakdown of industries within West Central Texas. Careful analysis of current employment, average median wages, and total employment demand information highlights several key industries within the region. Based on the data points highlighted in this chart, the following industries are a focus of future career pathway development:

  • Health Care
  • Education
  • Manufacturing
  • Construction

Read more about how Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas collaborates with cross-sector partners to provide targeted support for these industry pathways. 

Data Source: JobsEQ, 2025Q2 Data

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Occupation Snapshot

Across West Central Texas, occupational data such as number of employed, annual average wage, and projected demand over the next two years can highlight occupational groupings that are key for the region. Additionally, looking at individual occupational information provides insight into viable career and training pathways for future job seekers. These key occupations have strong projected growth, an above-average wage, and make up a large sector of the target industries listed above. Based on the information, the following occupations are targets for support in developing and strengthening career pathways:

IndustryCareer Pathway
Health CareNurses
Education Teachers
ManufacturingIndustrial Machinery Mechanics
ConstructionElectricians

Additional occupations are considered in-demand for the region and are listed on the Target Occupations page. 

Additional information around in-demand skills shown below also highlights potential career pathway supports needed in the region.

Data Source: JobsEQ and Lightcast, 2025Q2 Data