Buffalo County Has a Skilled and Educated Workforce

With Kearney as the central driver for economic activity, small businesses and large companies can draw on a skilled labor force with a range of talents built from the fantastic local higher education opportunities and existing industry roles. The county’s total labor force in 2022 approaches 30,000 individuals, with leading industries being Healthcare/Social Assistance, Retail Trade and Manufacturing. Employers benefit from the diverse range of inherent skills and experience present with area residents. Employees benefit from the substantial career opportunities and earning ability driven by the solid economic sector base.

Workforce

Total Businesses

2,401

Total Employed

34,349

Workers 16+

27,193

2024 HealthCare / Social Assistance

cp-industries

Businesses

330

Employed

7,216

2024 Retail Trade Businesses

cp-industries

Businesses

311

Employed

4,810

2024 Educational Services - Businesses

cp-industries

Businesses

77

Employed

3,904

2024 Accommodation / Food Service

cp-industries

Businesses

184

Employed

2,925

2024 Manufacturing Businesses

cp-industries

Businesses

74

Employed

2,822

2024 Food Service / Drinking Est.

cp-industries

Businesses

150

Employed

2,339

Some
High School

1,282

Graduated
High School

6,969

Associates
Degree

3,646

Bachelor's
Degree

7,983

Graduate
Degree

4,083

Average Commute Time

16 min.



Resident Commuters

24,164

Non-Resident Commuters

2,965

Drive Alone

22,541

Carpooled

2,693

Public

38

Work At Home

1,205

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11