Target Industry: Manufacturing
The Manufacturing industry includes material and product producers and the industries that support them. Manufacturing represents 12.6 percent of total private sector employment in Missouri, employing 312,208 workers across 11,186 establishments in 2023. Statewide annual average wage for the manufacturing industry in 2023 was $74,441.
The Growing Impact of AI on the Workforce
Business use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Missouri is small but growing. In a May 2024 survey, 89 percent of Missouri businesses reported not using AI, 5 percent were unsure and 6.1 percent used AI, slightly more than the U.S. average (5.7%). While the percentage of firms using AI is small, this level is nearly double the share of Missouri businesses that reported using AI a year earlier (3.1%). Looking ahead, 8.4 percent of Missouri firms expect to adopt AI within the next six months, indicating a slow but steady belief that AI adoption will increase. The top uses of AI for both Missouri and U.S. businesses include marketing automation, chatbot assistance, natural language processing and data analytics.
