Mining and related services are the main private employers in Spruce Pine.  Quartz and feldspar are the major economic resources.

Public services such as education and medical services are major employers as well.

Retail establishments also rank high on the list of number of people employed.

Historically, furniture manufacture has been a major source of jobs in Spruce Pine.  With the recent closings of Henredon and Ethan Allen, however, there are few furniture jobs remaining.  Genesis Furniture Industries has purchased the old Henredon plants, however, and plan to be in production by 2007.

The top ten employers in Mitchell County (as of Dec. 2004) are:

1. Mitchell County School System
2. Henredon Furniture Industries, Inc.  (now closed, purchased by Genesis)
3. Wal-Mart
4. Blue Ridge Regional Hospital (formerly Spruce Pine Community Hospital)
5. Mayland Community College
6. Unimin Corporation
7. General Mills Restaurants (note - unclear why this is here...)
8. Toe River Health District
9. County of Mitchell, NC
10. Mariner Health Central, Inc.

(Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov)