Many of the new job creations are in the manufacturing sector with Trinity Industries, Cooper Industries, Supreme Plastics, C.P. Aaon, Panel-Truss and Industrial Power and Services adding a combined 203 jobs, which has resulted in 345 indirect jobs in the local economy. The services industry is the second largest employer in the metro area providing 19,100 jobs to the local area economy, 23.3 percent of total employment. Services employment increased by 1,200 jobs from December 1993 to December 1994. Major sectors in the services industry are health and business services, which accounted for 61 percent of total services in the first quarter of 1994. With over 7,000 employed in health services during the first quarter of 1994, the metro area is a leading medical center in Northeast Texas.
Health services make up almost half of total employment in the sector.
An aging population coupled with rising health care expenditures continue to support a growing health care industry. Business services is the second largest portion of the service sector, representing over 15 percent of total service employment in the first quarter of 1994. Two local hospitals provide a large number of service sector jobs. Longview Regional Hospital employs 470 and has 80 licensed beds. Good Shepherd Medical Center, a 349 bed facility, is one of the area's largest employers providing 1,830 jobs.