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
- University of Kansas Health System
- Olathe Public Schools
1,000 to 1,999 employees
- Honeywell
- TransAm Trucking
500 to 999 employees
- AIG
- Case-Ready Walmart Packaging
- City of Olathe
- DH Pace/Overhead Door
- FAA/Air Route Traffic Control Center
- Faith Technologies/Excellerate
- FedEx Distribution Facilities (two)
- Heartland Coca-Cola
- Home Advisor
- Husqvarna Construction
- Hy-Vee Food Stores (two stores)
- ProPack Solutions
- Sysco Food Services of Kansas City, Inc.
- TVH Parts Co.
- Walmart Case-Ready Beef Facility
- WalMart (two Super Centers)
200 to 499 employees
- Bass Pro Shops
- Cargill
- Carmax
- Clorox
- DS Bus Lines
- Gerson International
- Home Depot (two stores)
- Hyland Software
- John Deere Agricultural 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
- Tyson Foods Villa St.Francis
100 to 199 employees
- ABF Freight
- ALDI (three stores)
- Allegion
- AMP, A PSI Business
- Azria Health
- Bethesda Lutheran Communities
- Blue Buffalo
- Cintas Corporation
- Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
- Dillard’s Distribution Center
- Dorthy’s Bakery
- Elecsys Corp.
- Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center
- Enterprise Bank & Trust
- ENTRUST Solutions Group
- Evergreen Living Innovations
- Healthcare Resort of Olathe
- Hen House Supermarket
- Insulite Glass
- ITW Pro Brands
- Jett Trucking
- Kansas State School for the Deaf
- KCAS Bioanalytical
- Kenny Thomas Olathe Toyota
- KidsTLC
- Kohl’s Department Store
- Lakemary Center
- Lineage Logistics
- Lowe’s
- Main Event Entertainment
- Menards
- Olathe Family YMCA
- Olive Garden
- Panasonic Energy
- Phenix Label Co.
- Price Chopper
- ProPak Solutions
- Santa Marta
- SelectRX
- Shadow Glen Golf Club
- Signature Landscape
- Tesco-Tandem Environmental
- Torotel
- U.S.Postal Service
- United Rotary Brush
- Webco Manufacturing Inc. Whole Foods Markets