Trendsights Newsletter

MERIC Releases Long-Term State and Regional Occupational Summaries
Did you know that Missouri is projected to have more than 370,000 total job openings each year through 2028? Total openings are comprised of growth openings, exit openings, and transfer openings. Of the top 20 occupations with the most total openings statewide, five are in the Office and Administrative Support major occupation group. Click on the above link to see the state and regional top openings.
MERIC Releases State and Regional Long-term Industry Projections
Industry projections are used to understand future employment and workforce needs. Missouri, as well as the other states, uses a process prescribed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the projections. Historic industry employment trends and other factors are analyzed to produce industry projections. The industry projections are combined with staffing patterns from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program to estimate occupational employment projections. Employment projections provide the total number of job openings in three categories, growth, transfer, and exit, that are expected to occur over the projection period.
Workforce Needs Assessment: Missouri’s Food, Agriculture and Forestry Industries
Over the next decade, Missouri’s food, agriculture and forestry industries are projected to generate 13,000 job openings each year. Deliberate statewide planning and action will ensure a globally competitive workforce for employers in these industries that are foundational to Missouri’s economy. A study published in July by University of Missouri Extension charts a way forward to address challenges these industries face over the next decade and address their long-term workforce development needs.
Census Bureau Launches Phase 2 Small Business Pulse Survey
The U.S. Census Bureau pioneered a new weekly survey in May 2020 to take the pulse of how America’s small businesses were faring in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Over 215,000 businesses responded from across the country providing new insights into the pandemic. Census has just launched Phase 2 and plans to report new data every Thursday to the public. To access the survey click here: portal.census.gov/pulse/data/.
Missouri Data Center: Missouri County Fact Sheet
Missouri Data Center has recently released their Missouri County Fact Sheet. This application generates a report for any county in Missouri, including population trends, age and race, income, employment, agriculture, households and housing, poverty, education, and children and families.
2019 Missouri Gross Domestic Product
Gross Domestic Product by State (GSP) measures the value-added from industries in a state. According to estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Missouri ranked 25th nationally in GSP at $290.9 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars, a 2.1 percent increase from 2018 to 2019. Nationally inflation-adjusted Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 2.3 percent over the same period.
Missouri Fortune 500 Companies
Fortune Magazine recently released its 2020 Fortune 500 rankings. Ten Missouri-based companies were included in this year’s Fortune 500 list. Centene maintained the highest ranking for Missouri among Fortune 500 companies, up to 42 from 51 last year, with revenues of $74.6 billion. Seven of the 10 Missouri companies experienced rank increases from the previous year.
Building Local Prosperity
Building Local Prosperity (BLP) is a participatory community economic development planning and engagement process designed specifically for communities, counties and/or regions. BLP is designed to foster greater understanding of what drives the local economy, factors that influence economic growth, analysis of key economic indicators, identification of community assets, challenges and barriers, development of strategies, and writing a strategic plan, as well as implementation support. Click on the link above to access information on this program.
C2ER Webinar: Intro Labor Market Analysis
C2ER is offering an introduction to labor market information (LMI) and basic analytical methods that support state and regional workforce development strategies. Through engaging discussions and hands-on exercises, participants will gain exposure to various workforce, demographic, and economic data sources. .
Metro Recovery Index Dashboard
Updated monthly, indicators in the Metro Recovery Index dashboard track impacts and trajectories in three major categories: the labor market, the real estate market, and other areas of economic activity. Missouri metros include St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield. Click on the above link to see how Missouri metros are recovering during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Women's Role in the Missouri Workforce
The Women’s Role in the Missouri Workforce report dives into women’s participation in the workforce. In Missouri, there are large regional differences in the type of industries that comprise job markets. Find participation statistics by county by clicking the link.
Real Time Target Industry Labor Market: Construction
The Construction industry showed more than 6,000 job postings in 2019 for top demand jobs. The top occupation was Construction Managers, making up 10.4 percent of total job postings for the industry during 2019.
Target Industry: Agribusiness
The Agribusiness Industry refers to food production, maintenance, storage, and support industries. Agribusiness represents 1.8 percent of total private sector employment, employing 43,389 workers across 1,933 establishments.
Census: Accessing Your Neighborhood Data in a Few Clicks
Accessing data for neighborhoods or service areas can be challenging, but there is a solution. Data.census.gov has a mapping feature to select different geographies by census tracts to find information on demographic, socioeconomic, and housing statistics. Click on the above link to learn more about how to use this tool and Census data.
Missouri Non-employed Establishments
In light of the recent job losses caused by COVID-19, many more Missourians may pursue self-employment as a means to create their own jobs or earn supplemental income. In 2018, Missouri had approximately 427,000 non-employer establishments. Click on the above link to learn more about self-employment businesses in Missouri.
Council for Community and Economic Research Upcoming Webinars
C2ER's webinar series connect economic development practitioners and labor market information analysts with timely information on trending topics, new resources, and best practices.
Small Business Openings & Revenue
Since the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic emerged as a global health concern, many efforts have focused on containing and treating the disease. At the same time, states and municipalities must manage how to reopen their economies. This Missouri Economy Indicators series will highlight data and resources that businesses and policymakers can use to navigate this evolving situation.
Business Index Rises
Missouri’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for June was 50.5, an increase of 8.2 points from May, and in expansion territory, according to the monthly Mid-America Business Conditions Survey, conducted by Creighton University, Omaha, NE.
Research for Recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented shock to the economy, impacting the workforce and companies across sectors. This page contains new and relevant research created to assist with economic recovery, along with links to quickly navigate to other relevant resources.
Free Business Startup Boot Camp
With 40 million people out of work across the country, and spring graduates trying to enter the job market, Global Silicon Valley and American City Business Journals are partnering on a free seven-week “Startup Boot camp.” The camp is designed to train a new entrepreneurial army to help restart the national economy. The program begins July 20 and concludes August 31 (Register at the site gsvbootcamp.com).
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is a monthly survey developed to address the need for data on job openings, hires, and separations.
In-Demand Programming Languages
Information Technology occupations are some of the most in-demand occupations in Missouri. From March 1, 2019 through February 29, 2020 there were over 54,000 job ads for select information technology occupations. The Computer Programming Languages brief breaks down the programming languages and skills sought after by employers in Missouri.
Virtual Job Fair
Workforce Developers will be interested in assisting businesses and employers in the two virtual job fairs to safely connect Missouri employers with job seekers. The first virtual job fair will take place on Wednesday, July 22, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The second will be Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 2-5 p.m. Job seekers can see job listings by industry, view participating employers, and join an employer’s “chat room” to hear more about their company and available job openings. OWD will host presentations about resume writing and interview tips each hour during the job fairs. Employers wishing to participate should register at https://jobs.mo.gov/virtual-job-fair-employer-registration by July 13
Certification-Attainment Matters to Missouri Workforce
Approximately 3.2% of Missouri workers hold a non-degree license compared to 1.7% nationally, while 5.3% of Missouri's labor force with a degree holds a license compared with 3.2% of US workers.