Missouri Labor Market Intelligence
Access to Jobs — Module 1 — Job Matching
Source: Missouri WIOA Combined State Plan, PY 2024–2027 / MERIC / Lightcast
MISSOURI JOB TIER FRAMEWORK
Missouri OWD classifies all occupations into three tiers based on required education/training:
| Tier | Education Required | Training | Entry Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOW | High school diploma or less | Short-term (days to weeks) | Fast |
| NEXT | Moderate post-secondary | Months of training or education | Medium |
| LATER | Bachelor's degree or higher | 2–4+ years | Longer-term |
Most STC participants should start with NOW or NEXT roles and build toward LATER.
STATEWIDE EMPLOYMENT OVERVIEW
- Total covered employment (2024): 2,898,200 (up 23,100 / +0.8% from 2023)
- 5-year growth (2020–2024): +223,100 jobs (+8.3%)
- Statewide average unemployment rate (2024): 3.7%
- Online job ads placed (May 2024–Apr 2025): 719,000+ (Lightcast data)
- Largest private-sector industry by GSP: Manufacturing (12.6%)
HIGH-DEMAND NOW OCCUPATIONS
(Highest job posting volume — fastest to hire)
- Retail Salesperson / Customer Service Representative
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide
- Laborer / Freight, Stock, and Material Mover
- Janitor / Cleaner (except Maids/Housekeeping)
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
- Food Preparation and Serving Worker
- Cashier
- Security Guard
- Warehouse Associate / Production Worker
- Childcare Worker
HIGH-DEMAND NEXT OCCUPATIONS
(Moderate training required — strong demand)
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers
- Maintenance and Repair Worker
- Sales Representative (Wholesale and Manufacturing — non-technical)
- Construction Laborer
- Electrician (apprenticeship pathway available)
- Plumber / Pipefitter (apprenticeship available)
- HVAC Technician (apprenticeship available)
- Forklift Operator / Industrial Maintenance Tech
- Medical Assistant / Phlebotomist
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- IT Support Specialist / Help Desk
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- EMT / Paramedic
- Welder / Machinist (CNC, CAD certification valued)
HIGH-DEMAND LATER OCCUPATIONS
(Growing fast but require degree)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Software Developer / Software Engineer
- Accountant / Financial Analyst
- Secondary School Teacher
- Physical Therapist / Occupational Therapist
- IT Systems / Network Administrator
- Health Services Manager
TOP INDUSTRIES BY EMPLOYMENT (2024)
| Industry | MO Employment Share | Growth Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care & Social Assistance | 11.9% of GSP | Strong growth |
| Manufacturing | 12.6% of GSP | Stable; skills shortage |
| Retail Trade | Largest by jobs in most regions | Stable |
| Professional & Business Services | Top 10-yr CAGR (3.6%) | Growing |
| Information / IT | 3.6% CAGR (highest 10-yr) | Growing fast |
| Educational Services | 3.5% CAGR | Growing |
| Construction | 2.7% CAGR | Growing; skilled labor shortage |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 2.7% CAGR | Growing |
TOP INDUSTRIES BY NUMERIC GROWTH TO 2032
(Long-term projections, 2022–2032):
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
- Individual and Family Services
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services
- Warehouse Clubs / General Merchandise Retailers
- Management of Companies and Enterprises
REGIONAL SNAPSHOT
| Region | Key Industries | 2024 Employment | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis (5 counties) | Retail, Healthcare, Professional Services | 1,056,400 (35% of MO) | 3.5% |
| Kansas City (5 counties) | Healthcare, Retail | 633,300 (21% of MO) | 3.6% |
| Central (19 counties) | Healthcare, Retail, Government | 323,300 (10.7%) | 3.5% |
| North | Retail, Manufacturing, Education | 239,700 (7.9%) | 3.6% |
| South Central | Retail, Healthcare, Manufacturing | 75,300 (2.5%) | 4.1% |
| Ozark | Tourism, Transportation, Healthcare | Smaller market | Higher |
| West Central | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail | Smaller market | Stable |
| Southeast | Retail, Healthcare, Manufacturing | Smaller market | Stable |
| Southwest | Healthcare, Manufacturing | Smaller market | Stable |
St. Louis metro note: Swansea / Metro East is part of the bi-state St. Louis labor market. Largest single job cluster in Missouri. Cross-border employment common.
EMPLOYER NEEDS + SKILL GAPS (2023 Missouri Employer Survey)
Top shortages reported:
- Patient Care / Clinical (Healthcare)
- Skilled Trades / Construction
- Manufacturing / Maintenance
- Customer Service (45% of employers reporting shortage, up from 25% in 2019)
What employers say applicants lack:
- Work habits / reliability
- Industry / business knowledge
- Critical thinking / problem solving
- Communication / interpersonal skills
What employers are doing:
- 80% hiring less experienced workers and training them
- 67% raising wages
- 52% offering flexible schedules
Implication for job seekers: Demonstrating reliability, communication, and willingness to learn often matters more than a perfect skills match.
REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PATHWAYS IN MISSOURI
Available in these fields (as of 2024):
- Construction: Electrician, Plumber, HVAC, Carpenter, Pipefitter
- Manufacturing: Industrial Maintenance, CNC Machinist, Advanced Manufacturing
- Healthcare: CNA, Medical Assistant, Child Development Associate (teaching)
- Information Technology: Multiple registered programs
- Early Childhood Education: 25 programs statewide
Apprenticeship Missouri (OWD initiative): "Earn while you learn" Contact: Missouri Office of Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning (via Job Centers)
ACT WORKKEYS — MISSOURI CREDENTIAL
Missouri participates in Certified Work Ready Communities program. WorkKeys assessment levels are included in occupation profiles for 800+ jobs statewide.
If a user has WorkKeys scores, include them on resume under Certifications. Levels: Bronze / Silver / Gold / Platinum — Gold/Platinum highly valued by manufacturers.
WHERE MISSOURIANS FIND JOBS
- jobs.mo.gov — Primary public job board; MoJobs system
- Missouri Connections (missouriconnections.org) — Career exploration + LMI
- Indeed, LinkedIn — Broad national boards with MO listings
- Missouri Job Centers — Employer partnerships; job fairs; direct referrals
- Industry-specific boards — e.g., healthcare portals, construction union halls
- DOC Fair Chance employer network — For returning citizens
Nonpartisan informational resource for Missouri — District 2 — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Source: dougdevitre/access-to-jobs.
Paid for by Matt Grant for Congress.