Manufacturing Labor Advantage
Nearly 100,000 people are employed in the Manufacturing sector in Southwest Johnson County, Kansas’ Labor Shed. Even more impressive is that new companies have access to a Labor Force of 1.3 Million when choosing to locate in Southwest Johnson County.
As part of the Kansas City Metro, your company can access all modes of transportation including major interstates, multiple class 1 railroads, and intermodal access.
Southwest Johnson County
Top Manufacturing Employers
Support Services within 30 Miles
- 184 Commercial Printers
- 142 Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchants
- 142 Industrial Machinery & Equipment
- 134 General Warehousers
- 111 Industrial Supply Wholesalers
- 90 Long-Distance Trucking Companies
- 78 HVAC Contractors
- 58 Office Equipment Wholesalers
- 50 Electrical Contractors
- 31 Industrial Building Contractors
- 28 Machine Shops
- 13 Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturers
- 13 Sheet Metal Work Manufacturers
- 11 Metal Coating and Engraving Manufacturers
- 11 Machine Tool Manufacturers, Cutting Tool & Accessory Manufacturers
- 8 Tool and Die Companies
- 8 Electroplating, Polishing, and Anodizing Manufacturers
- 4 Plate Work Manufacturers
- 2 Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal Companies
Manufacturing Location Advantage
Southwest Johnson County is within a day’s drive of Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; and Denver, Colorado. Our location also provides Aerospace manufacturers quick access to one of the largest clusters of similar industries in the United States, being just under a 3-hour drive time from Wichita, Kansas!
Transportation Infrastructure
Air: Local, Regional, and International Airports
Southwest Johnson County offers close proximity to international, regional, and municipal airports
- Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC)
- New Century AirCenter (IXD)
- Gardner Municipal Airport
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Interstate and Highway Access:
Proximity to Major Markets:
1-hour access to:
- Kansas City MSA (30 miles)
- Topeka, Kansas (54 miles)
3-hour access to:
- Wichita, Kansas (166 miles)
- Springfield, Missouri (180 miles)
- Columbia, Missouri (154 miles)
- Des Moines, Iowa (220 miles)
Rail Access:
The Johnson County Airport Commission operates the JCAX, a Short-Line, Class III railroad as a service to New Century Commerce Center tenants. The JCAX rail system is comprised of more than six miles of track that runs throughout the New Century Commerce Center.
The BNSF Railway system serves Southwest Johnson County with intermodal, automotive, and agricultural connections across the country.
Port Access:
In 2015, Port KC welcomed the first barge back to Kansas City since 2007, and has since become the fastest growing port in the Midwest. Port KC services the entire Kansas City, Missouri region, spurring significant economic growth.
Over the last five years, the Southwest Johnson County’s Manufacturing Industry has Experienced Significant Growth:
- 640% growth in Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
- 600% growth in Truck Trailer Manufacturing
- 589% growth in Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing
- 500% growth in Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing
- 231% growth in Plastics Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing
More than the US Average!
The Southwest Johnson County Manufacturing Industry has:
- 2x’s the US Average employed as Prepress Technicians and Workers
- 1.6x’s the US Average employed as Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
- 1.4x’s the US Average employed as Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 1.3x’s the US Average employed as Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- 1.2x’s the US Average employed as Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Utilities
The Johnson County Airport Commission maintains a 3 million gallon, above ground tank that serves as the primary storage and distribution facility as well as two underground storage tanks, totaling 750,000 gallons, that serve as a secondary distribution point.
Johnson County Wastewater serves over 500,000 residential and commercial customers throughout Johnson County. JCW collects over 18 billion gallons of wastewater each year.
Daily Usage: 50 million GPD
Gas Services in Johnson County are provided by Kansas Gas Service.
Residents and companies within Johnson County use a variety of electricity providers. By megawatt hours sold, the largest electricity supplier in Johnson County is Evergy.
KS Fiber is made up of 28 independent telephone companies that aim to meet the communication needs of Kansas. They serve the Johnson County area through their network of partners.
Labor Growth
Manufacturing Growth (45-Min DT of Gardner, Kansas)
- 3050% growth in Ship Building and Repairing
- 2500% growth in Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing
- 2200% growth in Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units Manufacturing
- 1600% growth in Nonferrous Metal Die-Casting Foundries
- 653% growth in Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing
- 640% growth in Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
- 600% growth in Truck Trailer Manufacturing
- 589% growth in Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing
- 500% growth in Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing
- 500% growth in Burial Casket Manufacturing
- 450% growth in Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
- 424% growth in Software and Other Prerecorded Compact Disc, Tape, and Record Reproducing
- 300% growth in Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills
- 257% growth in Scale and Balance Manufacturing
- 256% growth in Elevator and Moving Stairway Manufacturing
- 243% growth in Men’s and Boys’ Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing
- 236% growth in Current-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing
- 233% growth in Women’s Handbag and Purse Manufacturing
- 231% growth in Plastics Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing
- 200% growth in Broadwoven Fabric Mills
- 200% growth in Household Furniture (except Wood and Metal) Manufacturing
- 200% growth in Dental Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing
- 193% growth in Industrial Gas Manufacturing
- 186% growth in Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
- 183% growth in Custom Roll Forming
- 170% growth in Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
- 168% growth in Motor and Generator Manufacturing
- 165% growth in Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
- 164% growth in Aluminum Sheet, Plate, and Foil Manufacturing
- 149% growth in Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing
- 137% growth in Iron and Steel Forging
- 133% growth in Fabric Coating Mills
- 128% growth in In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing
- 113% growth in Rolling Mill and Other Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing
- 108% growth in All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing
- 107% growth in Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing
- 100% growth in Ethyl Alcohol Manufacturing
- 100% growth in Steel Wire Drawing
- 100% growth in Small Electrical Appliance Manufacturing
- 100% growth in Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
- 99% growth in Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing
- 95% growth in Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing
- 95% growth in Ice Manufacturing
- 94% growth in Wineries
- 91% growth in All Other Miscellaneous Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
- 90% growth in Electronic Computer Manufacturing
- 90% growth in Hardware Manufacturing
- 90% growth in Storage Battery Manufacturing
- 89% growth in Distilleries
- 87% growth in Bottled Water Manufacturing
- 86% growth in Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing
- 85% growth in Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
- 79% growth in All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing
- 78% growth in Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing
- 74% growth in Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing
- 65% growth in Other Millwork (including Flooring)
- 63% growth in Paper (except Newsprint) Mills
- 59% growth in Flour Milling
- 58% growth in Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing
- 55% growth in Breweries
- 53% growth in Prefabricated Metal Building and Component Manufacturing
- 50% growth in Footwear Manufacturing
- 49% growth in Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing
- 48% growth in Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing
- 45% growth in Fluid Milk Manufacturing
- 44% growth in Copper Rolling, Drawing, Extruding, and Alloying
- 44% growth in Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans
- 43% growth in Textile Bag and Canvas Mills
- 42% growth in Fruit and Vegetable Canning
- 40% growth in Specialty Canning
- 39% growth in Abrasive Product Manufacturing
- 38% growth in Capacitor, Resistor, Coil, Transformer, and Other Inductor Manufacturing
- 38% growth in Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
- 38% growth in Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing
- 37% growth in Asphalt Paving Mixture and Block Manufacturing
- 37% growth in Spice and Extract Manufacturing
- 37% growth in Metal Kitchen Cookware, Utensil, Cutlery, and Flatware (except Precious) Manufacturing
- 36% growth in Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing
- 36% growth in All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
- 35% growth in Meat Processed from Carcasses
- 35% growth in Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing
- 33% growth in Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube Manufacturing from Purchased Steel
- 33% growth in Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing
- 33% growth in Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing
- 32% growth in Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
- 32% growth in Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
- 32% growth in Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing
- 31% growth in Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging
- 31% growth in Tobacco Manufacturing
- 28% growth in Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing
- 26% growth in Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing
- 25% growth in Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
- 25% growth in Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing
- 25% growth in Adhesive Manufacturing
- 24% growth in Other Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing
- 24% growth in Paint and Coating Manufacturing
- 24% growth in Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing
- 23% growth in Wood Preservation
- 23% growth in Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing
- 23% growth in All Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
- 22% growth in All Other Miscellaneous Wood Product Manufacturing
- 22% growth in Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
- 21% growth in Unlaminated Plastics Film and Sheet (except Packaging) Manufacturing
- 21% growth in Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing
- 20% growth in Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
- 20% growth in Textile and Fabric Finishing Mills
- 19% growth in Other Snack Food Manufacturing
- 19% growth in Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
- 19% growth in Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers
- 19% growth in Commercial Screen Printing
- 18% growth in Reconstituted Wood Product Manufacturing
- 18% growth in Construction Machinery Manufacturing
- 17% growth in Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing
- 17% growth in All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing
- 17% growth in Tortilla Manufacturing
- 17% growth in Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing
- 15% growth in Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing
- 15% growth in Fats and Oils Refining and Blending
- 14% growth in Other Concrete Product Manufacturing
- 14% growth in Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing
- 13% growth in Mattress Manufacturing
- 13% growth in Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
- 13% growth in Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing
- 13% growth in Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing
- 12% growth in Cut Stone and Stone Product Manufacturing
- 11% growth in Prefabricated Wood Building Manufacturing
- 11% growth in Office Furniture (except Wood) Manufacturing
- 11% growth in Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
- 10% growth in Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
- 10% growth in Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing
Occupation Growth - Production Occupations (45-Min DT of Gardner, Kansas)
- 55% growth in Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers, over the last 5 years
- 50% growth in Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders over the last 5 years
- 39% growth in Semiconductor Processing Technicians over the last 5 years
- 33% growth in Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders over the last 5 years
- 30% growth in Food Batchmakers over the last 5 years
- 30% growth in Plant and System Operators, All Other, over the last 5 years
- 27% growth in Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders over the last 5 years
- 26% growth in Slaughterers and Meat Packers over the last 5 years
- 25% growth in Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders over the last 5 years
- 23% growth in Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers over the last 5 years
- 14% growth in Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders over the last 5 years
- 14% growth in Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers over the last 5 years
- 14% growth in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, over the last 5 years
- 12% growth in Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, over the last 5 years
- 12% growth in Food Processing Workers, All Other, over the last 5 years
- 12% growth in Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders over the last 5 years
Occupations Density – Production Occupations (45-Min DT of Gardner, Kansas)
- 1x’s the US Average employed as Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
- 0x’s the US Average employed as Prepress Technicians and Workers
- 7x’s the US Average employed as Furniture Finishers
- 6x’s the US Average employed as Print Binding and Finishing Workers
- 6x’s the US Average employed as Tire Builders
- 6x’s the US Average employed as Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
- 6x’s the US Average employed as Printing Press Operators
- 6x’s the US Average employed as Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- 5x’s the US Average employed as Semiconductor Processing Technicians
- 4x’s the US Average employed as Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
- 4x’s the US Average employed as Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- 4x’s the US Average employed as Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 3x’s the US Average employed as Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- 3x’s the US Average employed as Dental Laboratory Technicians
- 3x’s the US Average employed as Team Assemblers
- 3x’s the US Average employed as Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
- 2x’s the US Average employed as Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other
- 2x’s the US Average employed as Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
- 2x’s the US Average employed as Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Above the US Average employed as Power Plant Operators
- Above the US Average employed as Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
- Above the US Average employed as Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
- Above the US Average employed as Food Batchmakers
- Above the US Average employed as Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Above the US Average employed as Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
- Above the US Average employed as Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Workforce Training
Workforce Partnership Kansas
Workforce Partnership Kansas is committed to building a workforce development system that meets the needs of both job seekers and employers throughout the Kansas City area and operates the career center in Johnson County offering professional expertise and funding resources to employers and eligible job seekers.
Johnson County Community College
Johnson County Community College offers built-in certificate and degree programs for manufacturers, logistics, and more. Additionally, they offer customized training solutions used by world-class firms to train employees to work within your company’s processes and production environment.
Customized Workforce Training
The JCCC Business Solutions team brings innovation and tailored solutions to your site or to their classrooms on campus. We specialize in:
- Manufacturing and Trades
- Transportation and Logistics
- Computer Applications and Technology
- Soft Skills Development
Sample of Companies that have used our Customized training:
Real Estate
New Century Commerce Center
The New Century Commerce Center is a multimodal industrial park that is perfect for aerospace, logistics, and manufacturing industries. It is home to over 60 existing companies.
Gardner, Kansas Industrial Sites
The City of Gardner, Kansas, in Southwest Johnson County offers multiple industrial sites and facilities for logistics and manufacturing companies. It is also one of the fastest-growing communities in the Kansas City Metro.
Incentives
Southwest Johnson County, Kansas, offers state and local incentives that make this region the ideal location to live and work.
