Missouri is projected to have more than 307,000 total middle-skill job openings between 2014 and 2024. This includes openings created by new job growth, as well as those created through the need for replacement workers. Replacement openings occur due to retirement, turnover, or transferring to another occupation.
During this projected period, the 20 occupations with the greatest number of total openings include 4 Sales and Related occupations and 3 Office and Administrative Support occupations. Nursing Assistants are expected to have the greatest number of total openings between 2014 and 2024, with over 16,000 total projected openings.
| Occupation | 2014 Est Employment |
2024 Proj. Employment |
Growth Openings |
Replacement Openings |
Total Openings |
Avg. 2015 Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Assistants | 48,370 | 53,484 | 5,114 | 10,925 | 16,039 | $23,869 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 29,963 | 31,554 | 1,591 | 7,852 | 9,443 | $35,440 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 21,488 | 24,786 | 3,298 | 5,685 | 8,983 | $22,794 |
| Team Assemblers | 26,952 | 30,049 | 3,097 | 5,788 | 8,885 | $33,996 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 20,852 | 23,184 | 2,332 | 6,194 | 8,526 | $29,562 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 62,984 | 64,549 | 1,565 | 6,640 | 8,205 | $31,761 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 43,311 | 44,145 | 834 | 7,367 | 8,201 | $40,833 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 31,020 | 31,906 | 886 | 6,933 | 7,819 | $39,724 |
| Sales Reps, Wholesale and Manufacturing | 28,313 | 29,637 | 1,324 | 5,824 | 7,148 | $62,069 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 16,574 | 17,792 | 1,218 | 4,716 | 5,934 | $38,379 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 25,824 | 27,654 | 1,830 | 3,902 | 5,732 | $53,848 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 18,608 | 19,195 | 587 | 4,982 | 5,569 | $38,848 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 12,794 | 13,740 | 946 | 4,218 | 5,164 | $46,231 |
| Teacher Assistants | 16,969 | 17,901 | 932 | 4,069 | 5,001 | $24,336 |
| Sales Representatives, Services | 16,646 | 17,651 | 1,005 | 3,546 | 4,551 | $53,374 |
| Insurance Sales Agents | 11,466 | 12,638 | 1,172 | 3,011 | 4,183 | $61,790 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | 15,382 | 17,367 | 1,985 | 1,979 | 3,964 | $49,403 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | 10,330 | 11,424 | 1,094 | 2,658 | 3,752 | $27,139 |
| Carpenters | 19,542 | 20,892 | 1,350 | 2,247 | 3,597 | $51,768 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 36,183 | 32,786 | 0 | 3,548 | 3,548 | $36,894 |
| Data Sources: Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), Long-Term Occupational Projections, Occupational Employment and Wage Survey, and U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Product funded by the U.S. Employment and Training Administration, Workforce Information Grant | ||||||