Workforce
Ardmore has a Diverse & Stable Workforce
Ardmore is the home to one of the most cost-efficient Michelin tire manufacturing plants in the world. Ardmore’s location north of Dallas makes it a strategic geographic point for the distribution operations of Best Buy, Dollar Tree, and Dollar General, just to name a few.
Top Employers in Ardmore, OK Area
| Company | Industry / Description | Employee Count |
| Source: Ardmore Development Authority, June 2023 | ||
| Michelin North America | Manufacturer / Tires | 1,425 |
| Dollar General Distribution | Distribution/General Merchandise | 1,076 |
| Mercy Hospital Ardmore | Healthcare / Hospital | 1,007 |
| Dollar Tree | Distribution / General Merchandise | 430 |
| EJ Ardmore Foundry | Manufacturer/ Casting Products | 350 |
| Dot Foods | Food Redistribution | 336 |
| Best Buy Warehouse | Distribution. Electronics | 325 |
| Valero Ardmore Refinery | Energy/ Petroleum Products | 280 |
| AAF Flanders | Air Filter Manufacturer & Distribution | 200 |
| Noble Research Institute | Plant Biology/ Agricultural Science | 199 |
A Central & Efficient Location for Your Business
You won’t experience traffic congestion or delays in Ardmore. There is no such thing as “rush hour.” Most employees are less than 15 minutes from work. Those with longer commutes simply choose to live in other parts of Southern Oklahoma or North Texas and drive to work in Ardmore.
| Commute Time for Carter County Labor Force | ||
| Source: 2022 American Community Survey, Updated March 2024 | ||
Count | Percentage | |
| Less than 15 minutes | 9,450 | 44.9% |
| 15-29 minutes | 7,051 | 33.5% |
| 30-44 minutes | 2,715 | 12.9% |
| 45-59 minutes | 695 | 3.3% |
| 60 minutes or more | 1,158 | 5.5% |
A Thriving Business & Employment Economy
Ardmore, OK is a growing city and home to many major employers and manufacturers.
Carter County has averaged unemployment rates under 5% since 2011.
| Average Annual Unemployment Rate | |
| Year | Carter County |
| Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Updated March 2024 | |
| 2023 | 3.5% |
| 2022 | 3.6% |
| 2021 | 3.6% |
| 2020 | 7.5% |
| 2019 | 3.5% |
| 2018 | 3.5% |
| 2017 | 4.6% |
| 2016 | 5.2% |
| 2015 | 4.5% |
| 2014 | 4.0% |
| 2013 | 3.9% |
Based on the findings from the Comprehensive Regional Workforce Analysis released in June 2018.
- Underemployment represents approximately 12.3% of the regional labor force
- Underemployment is higher among workers with a bachelor’s degree or above
- Underemployment is higher among workers age 35 and below as well as lower earning workers
- Underemployment is higher among white collar and service workers
- Underemployment is high among engineers and science related workers
2018 Labor Study
In November 2017 the Ardmore Development Authority partnered with Site Selection Group, a Dallas-based location advisory firm, to evaluate the community’s strengths and weaknesses in regard to attracting new industry. Information for the study was gathered from various data sources, most importantly employer interviews and a workforce survey that was distributed and available for approximately six weeks.