Commuting Profile: South Central
The South Central Workforce Development Area (WDA) consists of 12 counties: Butler, Carter, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, Texas, Wayne, and Wright. Poplar Bluff and West Plains are among the largest cities in the region. There were 52,363 employees that lived in the South Central WDA and 43,749 workers employed in the region, resulting in a net outflow of 8,614 workers traveling to jobs outside of the region. Click on the link above to learn more about the South Central and the workforce commuting habits.
Top Openings for STEM Occupations
Missouri’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations are projected to have 14,100 annual openings each year between 2022 and 2032. STEM occupations generally pay above average wages in Missouri, and most require a bachelor’s degree or higher. Eighteen of the top 20 STEM occupations have Career Grades that are B and higher, meaning these occupations have above average growth, total openings, or wages.
