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St. Luke’s Hospital remains 2nd top employer

COLUMBUS—The Polk County School system remains the county’s top employer with St. Luke’s Hospital ranking Polk’s second top employer. 

The Polk County Board of Commissioners was recently presented the annual audit for fiscal year 2018-2019, which includes statistical information about the county. 

The county ranked the top employers in tiers, with the school system, St. Luke’s, Acts Inc. (Tryon Estates) and Polk County government having between 250 and 499 employees. 

Cooper Riis Inc., Tryon International Equestrian Center, White Oak Management Inc. and Pavillon International have between 100-249 employees and Polk Vocational Services, Pure Country, Community Choices Inc., Autumn Corporation, Milliken & Co. Inc. and Food Lion have between 50-99 employees. 

Cooper Riis ranked the county’s 5th highest employer, with TIEC ranking 6th, White Oak ranking 7th, Pavillon ranking 8th, Polk Vocational Services ranking 9th and Pure Country ranking 10th, according to the audit report. 

The audit report compared the top employers at year-end 2019, with the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2019, with the same time in 2010. 

The top four employers in 2010 were the same as in 2019. Polk County Schools had 450 employees in 2010; St. Luke’s Hospital had 344 employees in 2010; Tryon Estates had 250 employees in 2010 and Polk County Government had 218 employees in 2010, according to the audit report. 

The top 10 list for 2010 included White Oak Management ranked as the fifth top employer; Autumn Corporation ranked as sixth highest employer; Polk Vocational Services ranked as 7th; Quality Textiles ranked as 8th highest; Carolina Yarn Processors ranked as the 9th highest employer and Laurel Hurst ranked as the 10th highest, according to the audit report. Hatch Plant was also ranked as the 11th highest employer in 2010. 

The total workforce in Polk County in 2019 from the top 10 employers is 9,301. 

The top 10 employers in 2010 made up more employees at 9,651 employees total. 

 

Polk’s 2019 top employers

1. Polk County Public Schools
2. St. Luke’s Hospital Inc. 
3. Acts Inc. (Tryon Estates)
4. Polk County Government
5. Cooper Riis Inc. 
6. Tryon International Equestrian Center
7. White Oak Management Inc. 
8. Pavillon International (A Corp)
9. Polk Vocational Services
10. Pure Country