Employment in Sugar Land moves from manufacturing to the medical field after Houston Methodist becomes the largest private employer in the city

Sugar Land, Texas (KTRK) – From sugar to medicine, the job landscape in Sugar Land has changed, but efforts to serve the community have not.

Drive along Interstate 90 in Sugar Land, and it’s hard to miss what feels like a piece of history frozen in time. The walls and windows have weathered, but the city wouldn’t be what it is today without them.

“We started as a sugar-producing town in the 19th century,” said Alba Johnson, Sugar Land’s director of economic development.

It is the product that gave the city its name and identity. The railroads and factories created jobs and a sense of community that was on display during the Great Depression.

Watch a related story: Sugar Land’s Latino community remembers its historical connection to baseball

“The company, the town and the refinery have all come together to make sure everyone keeps their jobs as best they can,” Johnson said.

Now, only 6% of the city’s jobs are in manufacturing, proving that the shift has arrived as its population has grown.

Approximately 20% of jobs at Sugar Land are in the medical field. The largest employer is not a mill but a hospital, which has changed a lot in 15 years.

“We used to be a 54-bed hospital, and we’ve now grown our numbers to 350 beds, with a plan to expand that to 550 beds over the next 10 years,” explained Chris Sepinaler, CEO of Houston Methodist Sugar Land.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land is the city’s largest private employer. It’s not a sugar mill, but its employees have the same mindset.

“At the end of the day, we take care of this community, and that’s really a huge responsibility, and we can’t take it lightly,” Sepinaler said.

Sugar Land also has a growing tech community, and local leaders are racing to find new ways to attract new companies.

“Our priorities focus on things like quality of life, short commutes for employees and employers, so they can attract these types of employees,” Johnson explained.

The city hopes that the growth will make residents not forget their history and how it became a great place to work.

“It’s a great example of how work can change over time,” said Michelle Castro, a spokeswoman for Workforce Solutions. How we moved from a muscle-driven economy to a knowledge-driven economy.

Sugar Land is also a place where you will find a low number of unemployment. It has fallen by a percentage point since last year, and currently the unemployment rate is 3%. Economic leaders said this is a good thing for job seekers.

“Many employers add different types of benefits to entice workers to come and work for them, especially in such a competitive environment,” Castro said.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land It is looking to employ 250 workers in its hospital and clinical facilities. The city’s economic leaders have a website Where other companies are looking too.

Another way to get a job is through the ABC13 Who’s Hiring Job Fair with Workforce Solutions. On Thursday, February 9th at 10am, we will be featuring Instant Hiring jobs in the Sugar Land area. To participate, simply head to our website, or wherever you are broadcasting ABC13. to view jobs, Visit the Workforce Solutions websiteand look for the “As seen on ABC13” section.

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