The Olathe business community benefits from a regional labor force in the Kansas City MSA (2.5 million) that is highly educated, extremely innovative and comparatively affordable to many major labor markets.
Workforce Highlights
- Access to over 1.25 million workers 4.3 in an 20-county laborshed
- 44.5% of the population over 25 has a Bachelor’s Degree or higher (Olathe, KS)
- Kansas City MSA unemployment rate of 6.0% (9/14)
- One of the fastest growing major job markets in the Midwest (KC MSA)
- Lower business and lifestyle costs than most major metros
Continuing Education
Olathe is home to
- MidAmerican Nazarene University
- Kansas State Unviersity – Olathe
- Johnson County Community College’s Health Education Center
Other area institutions of higher learning:
- Avila University
- Baker University School of Professional and Graduate Studies
- Bellevue University
- Brown Mackie College
- Emporia State University Metro Learning Center
- Johnson County Community College (JCCC)
- Ottawa University Kansas City
- Rasmusssen College
- University of Kansas Edwards Campus
- University of Missouri/Kansas City
- University of Saint Mary in Overland Park
Major Employers
Major employers (Based on CERI 2021 data)
2,000 or more employees
- Farmers Insurance
- Garmin International
- Johnson County Government
- Olathe Medical Center
- Olathe Public Schools
1,000 to 1,999 employees
- TransAm Trucking Inc.
500 to 999 employees
- AIG
- City of Olathe
- DH Pace/Overhead Door
- FAA/Air Route Traffic Control Center
- Excellerate
- FedEx Distribution Facilities (2)
- Honeywell
- Husqvarna
- Hy-Vee Food Stores (two stores)
- ProPack Solutions
- Sysco Food Services of Kansas City, Inc.
- TVH Parts Co.
- Wal-Mart (two Super Centers)
200 to 499 employees
- Bass Pro Shops
- CarMax
- Cargill
- DS Bus Lines
- Gerson International
- Home Depot (two stores)
- Hyland Software
- John Deere AG Marketing Center
- KVC Behavioral Healthcare
- McCarthy Automotive Group
- MidAmerica Nazarene University
- Olathe Ford Lincoln
- Olathe Good Samaritan Center
- Orizon Aerostructures
- Pepsi Beverages Company
- S+S Activewear
- Springstone Rehabilitation
- SPX Cooling Technologies
- Target Super Store (two stores)
- Terracon Consulting
- Tyson Foods
- Villa St. Francis