ECONOMY The Woodlands area reports job growth, diverse industries
After recording the first annual decline in jobs in The Woodlands area last year, Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, reported the region grew to more than 40,000 employees among 86 major nonretail employers in 2023. Staley presented the EDP’s annual report, highlighting employers and employment sectors in the region at the 37th annual Economic Outlook BY VANESSA HOLT & JESSICA SHORTEN
Health care remained the region’s top industry for employment, accounting for 30.9% of major nonretail employees. Over time, it has overtaken energy as the region’s top employer. Energy represented 27% of area jobs in 2019, but in 2023 it represents 7.7%, according to the report. This is lower than the sectors of education; professional and busi- ness services; and transportation, warehousing and utilities. The employer with the most employees in The Woodlands area is Conroe ISD, and the next three largest employers are all health care facilities—Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
Conference held by The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center Feb. 24. In 2022, major nonretail employers reported 36,673 employees, down from 38,660 in 2021. However, in 2023, the region has 40,119 employ- ees, an increase of 9.4%, according to Staley.
and St. Luke’s Health The Woodlands Hospital. In total, there are more than 12,000 health care jobs in the region, Staley said. “Health care is such an important employer for the state of Texas,” Staley said. “There is a direct correlation between population growth and improved health care and education opportunities.” The number of nonretail major employers has also increased. In 2003, there were 33 such employers, and in 2013 there were 55. Since 2022, two companies have joined the ranks, increasing from midsize employers— those with 40 to 99 employees—to 100 or more employees. Company growth has been organic in this way, Staley said, with smaller companies gradually becoming larger. “When I talked about business retention and expansion, that’s what I’m talking about,” he said. Among the major employment sectors in The Woodlands area are 13 different categories, Staley said, ranging from health care and education to smaller sectors such as life science, which makes up 0.8% of jobs. However, he noted, additional life sciences companies are locating in The Woodlands, including Celli- pont and Nurix Therapeutics. He said the EDP has requests for proposals out with three more life sciences companies. Staley said he believes the region’s diversity in sectors adds to its overall economic health and versatility. “I leave you today exceptionally optimistic,” Staley said. “Job losses are behind us.”
Staley said major employers are defined as having at least 100 employees.
For the first time, major nonretail employers in The Woodlands area with more than 100 employees accounted for more than 40,000 total jobs. EMPLOYEE GROWTH
Top 10 major nonretail employers in The Woodlands area in 2023
Change from 2022
CHANGING WORKPLACE
+429
5,025
Conroe ISD
Among the 86 major nonretail employers in The Woodlands area, 83 have in-house workers but many offer a blend of several work styles including hybrid and remote.
Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
+56
3,030
+548
2,398
St. Luke's Health The Woodlands Hospital
+330
2,187
100 80 60 40 20 0
-10
1,520
Alight Solutions
+36
1,398
Lone Star College
+186
1,334
Texas Children's
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
+150
1,220
Woodforest National Bank
+43
1,072
+34
1,011
Entergy Texas
SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP/COMMUNITY IMPACT *Some businesses are listed multiple times because they have employees across multiple work styles.
Number of employees
SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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