Liberal’s labor force is young and diverse, including skilled and semi-skilled workers with a variety of technical and educational backgrounds. Seward County Community College/Area Technical School offers workforce development programs as well as degrees in agriculture, math, science and skilled trades. Workforce development is provided through the Business and Industry office.
Kansas is a right-to-work state.
Labor Pool
(Includes surrounding five counties) updated December 17, 2021
Kansas figures as of November 2021 and Oklahoma figures as of October 2021
| County | Population | Total Labor | Unemployed | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seward County, KS | 21,964 | 9,799 | 203 | 2.1% |
| Haskell County, KS | 3,780 | 2,246 | 36 | 1.6% |
| Meade County, KS | 4,055 | 2,162 | 36 | 1.7% |
| Stevens County, KS | 5,250 | 2,881 | 46 | 1.6% |
| Beaver County, OK | 5,297 | 2,829 | 26 | 0.9% |
| Texas County, OK | 18,967 | 12,045 | 111 | 0.9% |
| Total | 59,313 | 31,962 | 458 | 1.47%(avg) |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Kansas Department of Labor, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission
Major Employers
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| National Beef | 3,500 |
| USD 480 | 850 |
| Seward County Community College | 460 |
| Southwest Medical Center | 425 |
| Wal-Mart Supercenter | 350 |
| Seaboard Foods | 275 |
| City of Liberal | 240 |
| Conestoga Energy | 220 |
| Seward County | 200 |
| National Carriers | 200 |
| DCP | 150 |
Business Size
| Employees | Business Count |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 employees | 244 |
| 5 to 9 employees | 135 |
| 10-19 employees | 86 |
| 20-49 employees | 49 |
| 50-99 employees | 10 |
| 100-249 employees | 4 |
| 250 + employees | 5 |
| 0 Employees | 58 |
| Total, All Size Classes | 591 |
Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services and the Bureau of Labor Statistics;
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)
2020 Employed Population 16+ by Industry
|
Industry |
Percentage |
|---|---|
| Agriculture/Mining | 8.2% |
| Construction | 5.6% |
| Manufacturing | 26.9% |
| Wholesale Trade | 3.8% |
| Retail Trade | 10.7% |
| Transportation/Utilities | 7.1% |
| Information | 0.7% |
| Finance/Insurance/Real Estate | 2.3% |
| Services | 30.5% |
| Public Administration | 4.1% |
Source, Esri Community Profile for Liberal, KS
