Gadsden's leading industries are education, health and social services, manufacturing and retail trade. The services industry is the #1 employer. Some of the other significant industries for jobs are: goods processing, education, healthcare, retail and wholesale trade, manufacturing, leisure and hospitality and the government.
Only about 6% of the industries in Gadsden are affiliated with unions. Benefits typically provided by Gadsden manufactures are about 28% of wages paid. The Gadsden - Etowah County Industrial Development Authority regularly conducts surveys with local plant managers regarding labor relations. The studies indicate that on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most favorable, 39% of the managers gave a ranking of 4 and 45% gave a ranking of 5.
In early 2009, the average earnings in Gadsden was $25,000. In 2008 the cost of living index was at 78.5 and the nation's average is 100. About 8% of the residents over the age of 25 have a bachelor's degree and approximately 6% have a graduate degree.
The major employers in the Gadsden area are shown below:
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber
- Gadsden Regional Medical Center - Hospital
- Mid-South Industries - Metalworking
- OHG of Gadsden
- Etowah County Board of Education
- Riverview Regional Medical Center - Hospital
- Gadsden City Board of Education
- SAIC
- DuPont Hospital
- Gentiva Health Services
- City of Gadsden
- Equity Group of Alabama - Further poultry processing
- Mid-South Electronics
- Koch - Primary poultry processing
- Inteva Products - Plastic injection molding
- The Bridge
- Dixie Pacific Manufacturing
- Bama Bells
- Hardin & Company
- County of Etowah
- Mcguffey Health Care - Nursing home
- Mountain View Hospital
- Attala City Schools
- Jay-Mid South - Robotic welding
- Crown Column & Millwork - Wood Columns
- Stamped Products
Helpful Gadsden business organizations are:
- Gadsden Industrial Development Authority
- Gadsden Commercial Development Authority
- Gadsden Chamber of Commerce
The Gadsden Times provides information about the current business activities in the Gadsden area.