Hyundai Labor Market Data

Talent Recruitment and Hiring Support

• Job posting and promotion through WorkInTexas.com
• Candidate sourcing, screening, and referrals
• Customized recruitment strategies for single or multiple positions
• Hiring events, job fairs, and on-site recruitment coordination
• Layoff aversion and rapid hiring assistance
• Support for hard-to-fill and high-skill occupations

Labor Market Information and Workforce Intelligence

• Local and regional labor market data
• Occupational wage and demand analysis
• Industry and sector workforce trends
• Talent supply and availability analysis
• Commuting patterns and labor shed data
• Workforce impact analysis for expansion or new operations

Training and Upskilling Support

• Skills Development Fund (SDF) grant support through TWC
• Customized training solutions in partnership with training providers
• Upskilling and reskilling strategies for incumbent workers
• Apprenticeship and work-based learning guidance
• Support identifying eligible training programs and providers

Hiring Incentives and Financial Support

• Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) assistance
• Paid and unpaid work experience programs
• Support navigating state and federal workforce incentives
• On-the-Job Training (OJT) reimbursement through TWC

Business Expansion and Site Selection Support

• Workforce feasibility analysis for expansion or relocation
• Coordination with economic development partners
• Labor availability assessments for site selection
• Workforce cost and wage benchmarking
• Support during project planning and ramp-up phases

Compliance, Reporting, and Employer Navigation

• Guidance on workforce program eligibility and requirements
• Support navigating TWC workforce programs
• Assistance with hiring veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other targeted populations
• Coordination with state and regional workforce initiatives

Employer Engagement and Strategic Workforce Planning

• Dedicated Business Services representatives
• Long-term workforce strategy development
• Sector partnerships and industry engagement
• Education and training partner coordination
• Employer roundtables and workforce briefings

The Labor Market Information overview provides a snapshot of workforce conditions in the Texas Panhandle, including labor availability, occupational data, wage information, and key industry trends. This information was presented during our meeting and is intended to support workforce planning and hiring discussions.

Workforce Solutions Panhandle can expand on any data included in this overview or provide additional analysis as needed to support future planning, hiring, or training decisions.

Labor Force

The civilian labor force includes everyone aged 16 and older who is either working or actively looking for work.

In the Texas Panhandle Workforce Development Area, the labor force reached 216,897 in September 2025. This continues the gradual upward trend seen over the past year, with numbers rising from 212,120 in October 2024.

Employment

Employment measures the number of individuals aged 16 and older who are working.

In the Texas Panhandle Workforce Development Area, employment stood at 209,556 in September 2025. This marks an increase of 3,650 from 205,906 in September 2024, reflecting continued job growth in our region.

Unemployment

Unemployment measures the number of individuals aged 16 and older in the labor force who are actively seeking work but not currently employed.

In the Texas Panhandle Workforce Development Area, unemployment stood at 7,341 in September 2025. This represents an increase of 496 from 6,845 in September 2024.

Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate is the percentage of the civilian labor force that is actively seeking work but not currently employed.

In the Texas Panhandle Workforce Development Area, the unemployment rate was 3.4% in September 2025. This represents a slight increase from 3.2% in September 2024. Our region continues to experience low unemployment relative to state and national averages.

The Targeted Occupations List is a set of occupations identified by the Panhandle Workforce Development Board as high-demand and high-wage within the Texas Panhandle Workforce Development Area. These occupations are selected through analysis of labor market data, projected job growth, employer input, and regional wage levels.

The list guides how training dollars and career services are prioritized. Occupations on the list qualify for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act–funded training because they offer strong long-term employment opportunities, support regional industry needs, and provide wages that help workers reach economic stability.

This is not a fixed list. Occupations can be added or removed as the labor market changes, new industries emerge, employer needs shift, or updated data shows different wage or demand patterns.

For employers, the Targeted Occupations List shows where the region is concentrating its training investments. It reflects the occupations expected to have a strong talent pipeline and the areas where employers can anticipate greater availability of skilled workers.

Workforce Development Board Area covering the years 2022–2032. It identifies the specific occupations and employment levels that make up each industry in the region.

The report includes two worksheets. The first focuses on Construction and Extraction, Installation, Maintenance and Repair, Production, and Transportation and Material Moving occupations. The second worksheet provides a complete view of all industries and occupations in the region. This report is intended to support workforce planning and occupational demand analysis.

The Wage Report provides 2024 annual and hourly wage estimates for a wide range of occupations, helping employers understand compensation trends in the Texas Panhandle. Our spreadsheet includes three worksheets: Amarillo (worksheet 1), the Panhandle Workforce Development Area (worksheet 2), and the state of Texas (worksheet 3).

Each worksheet lists wages for all occupations in three levels: total of all occupations for the area, major occupation categories, and detailed occupations within each category. While the report covers up to 800 occupations, not all wages are available for the Amarillo metro area. When specific data for Amarillo is unavailable, the report provides corresponding wages for the Panhandle WDA or the state, which are included in the other worksheets.

This report can be used to guide hiring, salary benchmarking, and workforce planning decisions, and we can provide additional analysis or deeper breakdowns as needed.

The Skills Development Fund (SDF) is a state-funded program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). It provides grants for customized training to help Texas businesses train new workers or upskill existing employees. The program focuses on addressing specific skill needs to improve workforce productivity and wages.

Program Details

• Funding covers training costs, including curriculum development, instructor salaries, and materials.
• Average cost per trainee is around $2,400.
• Grants are typically for 12 months.
• Trainees must be full-time employees paid at least the prevailing wage in the local area.

Eligibility and Application Process

• Businesses, consortia of businesses, or trade unions identify training needs.
• Eligible applicants (who submit the grant proposal) include public community or technical colleges, local Workforce Development Boards, or the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).
• Employers partner with one of these entities to develop and submit the proposal.
• Proposals are accepted year-round.
• Contact Workforce Solutions Panhandle for assistance in developing applications and identifying training partners.

Skills Development Fund Contacts

Phillip Flores
Senior Business Services Representative
Workforce Solutions Panhandle
(806) 350-1606
pflores@wspanhandle.com

Maegan Franklin
Regional Business Liaison
Texas Workforce Commission
(806) 315-1697
maegan.franklin@twc.texas.gov

Kevin Cheek
Executive Director of Workforce Training & Development 
Amarillo College 
(806) 371-2996
Kdcheek@actx.edu

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conducts an annual survey on employee benefits trends in the U.S., with data collected from 3,969 organizations in 2025. This executive summary provides national benchmarks for benefits offerings, which employers in the Texas Panhandle Workforce Development Area can use to assess competitiveness in recruitment and retention. SHRM members can access an interactive online tool at shrm.org/benefits to filter results by state, including Texas, for location-specific comparisons across 2021-2025.

Employer Priorities for Benefits Categories

Employers rate benefits categories by importance (“very important” or “extremely important”) as follows:

• Health care: 88%
• Retirement savings and planning: 81%
• Leave: 81%
• Flexible work: 68%
• Family care: 67%
• Professional and career development: 65%

These ratings have remained stable since 2022, with flexible work declining by 2 percentage points from 2024.

Health Care Benefits

Health care offerings include:

• General health plan coverage: 97%
• Dental insurance: 99%
• Vision insurance: 96%
• Fully insured plans: 70%
• Self-insured plans: 27%
• Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans: 81%
• High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) with savings accounts: 64%
• Health savings accounts (HSAs): 61%, with average employer contributions of $1,059 (individual) and $1,735 (family)
• Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs): 14%, with average contributions of $2,096 (individual) and $3,365 (family)
• Medical flexible spending accounts (FSAs): 60%

New or notable in 2025:

• GLP-1 drug coverage for type 2 diabetes or weight management: 23%
• Critical illness insurance: 53%
• Hospital indemnity insurance: 40%

Retirement Savings and Planning Benefits

Prevalent offerings include:

• Traditional 401(k) or similar plans: 93%, with 85% offering a match (average 6.30%)
• Roth 401(k) or similar plans: 76%, with 74% offering a match (average 6.08%)
• Qualified student loan payment (QSLP) matches: 4%

Leave Benefits

Standard paid leave includes:

• Vacation, holiday, and sick leave: At least 95%
• Combined paid time off (PTO): 68%
• Paid open/unlimited leave: 6%

Average annual PTO days by tenure:

• Less than 1 year: 12 days
• 20+ years: 26 days

Declines in 2025:

• Bereavement leave: 89%
• Paid leave for immediate family care: 31%
• Paid leave for extended family care: 17%

New or reintroduced in 2025 (beyond legal requirements):

• Paid jury duty: 70%
• Paid military leave: 32%
• Paid prenatal leave: 10%

Family Care Benefits

Offerings have stabilized or declined slightly:

• Dependent care FSAs: 54%
• Lactation support services: 13%
• Pet insurance: 22%
• Elder care services and information: 7%
• Elder care referral services: 13%

Flexible Work Benefits

Prevalent offerings include:

• Hybrid work: 60%
• Flextime during core hours: 51%
• At-home office equipment subsidies: 55%, with average annual reimbursement of $888

Commonly covered items:

• Office technology: 95%
• General office supplies: 62%
• Cellphone service: 35%
• Well-being items: 22%
• Office chairs: 22%

Professional and Career Development Benefits

Offerings include:

• Professional memberships: 87%
• Formal training for skills maintenance: 82%
• Upskilling/reskilling: 79%
• Certification/recertification fees: 78%
• Professional license fees: 75%
• Executive/leadership coaching: 47%
• Formal mentoring programs: 26%

Artificial intelligence-related:

• Subscriptions to AI chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude.ai): 16%

Benefits Groupings with Notable Changes

Housing and relocation (compared to 2024): Relocation lump sums (27%), reimbursement of shipping fees (11%), location visit assistance (11%), temporary relocation (8%)

Lifestyle benefits (compared to 2021): Smoking cessation programs (20%), onsite stress management (17%), weight loss programs (16%), preventive programs for chronic conditions (15%)

Wellness benefits (compared to 2021): Wellness programs with resources (39%), onsite seasonal flu vaccinations (37%), rewards for program completion (26%), annual health risk assessments (19%)

ZIP Code 79068 (Fermi Location) receives 4,720 inbound commuters based on 2024 data. These workers travel to the area for employment. The majority originate from nearby urban and rural areas in the Texas Panhandle.

Key Statistics

• Total inbound commuters: 4,720.
• 78.6% (3,709) from Amarillo ZIP codes.
• 7.4% (349) from Canyon.
• Remaining 14% distributed across other Panhandle communities, including Borger (2.7%), Pampa (2.1%), and Fritch (1.7%).

Top Originating ZIP Codes

The following table lists the top 20 originating ZIP codes by number of inbound commuters, including associated cities.

Pattern

The data confirm that ZIP Code 79068 draws most of its workforce from Amarillo, with smaller numbers from nearby towns.

Source: Lightcast Q4 2025 Data Set.

Amarillo Metal Trades Council

Metal Trades Council / Metal Trades Unions (MTU) – coordinated representation of multiple metal craft unions on large industrial and nuclear projects. Covers mechanical installation, welding, fabrication, turbine and auxiliary systems, and jurisdictional coordination under unified site agreements.

Local presence through the Amarillo Area Metal Trades Council, with deep experience supporting Pantex and other major federal and industrial projects in the region.

IBEW Local 602
(Electrical Union)

IBEW – electrical distribution, power systems, instrumentation and control wiring, motor and generator connections, raceways and switchgear.

Local presence includes IBEW Local 602 (Amarillo) with training through the West Texas Electrical JATC.

United Association Local Union 404
(Pipefitters, Welders, Plumbers and HVAC-R Union)

United Association (UA — plumbers/steamfitters/pipefitters) – high-pressure piping, steam systems, heat-trace, valve work, and nuclear process piping installations. Regional coverage through UA Local 404 (West Texas / Panhandle).

United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) Local 665 (Carpenters Union)

Carpenters, Cement Masons / Concrete Finishers, Millwrights, Insulators, Glaziers, Elevator Constructors, Scaffolders, and other specialty unions – formwork, concrete placement and finishing, turbine and rotating equipment installation, insulation of piping and vessels, vertical conveyance systems, scaffolding, and building fit-out. Representation varies by trade, with local and regional coverage across the Panhandle.

Sheet Metal Workers (SMART) Local 49
(Sheet Metal Workers Union)

Sheet Metal Workers (SMART) – HVAC systems, ductwork, metal enclosures, ventilation systems, and containment penetrations. Local presence through SMART Local 49.

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 178
(Operating Engineers Union)

Operating Engineers – heavy equipment operators for cranes, dozers, graders, excavation, foundations, and critical heavy lifts. Regional coverage through Operating Engineers Local 178.

Associated General Contractors (AGC) — Panhandle of Texas Chapter

AGC – Merit shop/general contractor association – Serves commercial and heavy construction firms with resources including safety guidance, networking, and advocacy for local contractors.

Associated General Contractors – Panhandle of Texas Chapter
Sandy Webb
Executive Director
1707 W. 8th Ave
Amarillo, TX 79101
(806) 374‑1924
Sandy@agcamarillo.com

Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) of the Texas Panhandle

IEC – Non-union electrical contractors – Provides electrical contracting services for commercial, industrial, and residential projects. Supports training through apprenticeship programs and continuing education.

Amarillo Office
IEC Texas Panhandle
Sandy Webb
Executive Director
(806) 690-1124
iectpexecutivedirector@gmail.com

Texas Panhandle Builders Association (TPBA)

TPBA – Construction and building industry association – Represents builders, developers, remodelers, and construction-related businesses across the Texas Panhandle. Focuses on industry advocacy, education, and business support.

Amarillo Office
Texas Panhandle Builders Association
Beatriz “Bea” Kimball
Executive Director
5601 Enterprise Circle, Suite D, Amarillo, TX 79106
(806) 353-3565
bkimball@tpba.org

Amarillo College

Community college serving the Texas Panhandle with strong capacity in technical education, skilled trades, industrial maintenance, and customized workforce training. Frequently partners with employers on short-term training and incumbent worker upskilling.

Clarendon College

Public community college serving the eastern Panhandle with campuses in Clarendon, Pampa, and Childress. Offers career and technical education programs and workforce-aligned instruction supporting regional employers.

Frank Phillips College

Community college serving the northern Panhandle with campuses in Borger, Dalhart, and Perryton. Provides technical education, industrial training, and workforce-relevant associate degrees.

West Texas A&M University

Four-year public university offering undergraduate and graduate programs aligned with engineering technology, business, agriculture, education, and workforce-relevant research. Serves as a regional talent pipeline for professional and technical occupations.

Texas Tech University

Tier-one research university with extensive engineering, construction management, energy, and applied sciences capacity. Serves as a statewide and regional source for advanced technical, engineering, and professional talent.

Texas Tech University
2500 Broadway
Lubbock, TX 79409
Phone: (806) 742-2011
https://www.ttu.edu/