Trendsights Newsletter
| Career Pathway: Manufacturing Manufacturing creates the products people need and want. Manufacturing represents 12.5 percent of total private sector employment in Missouri, employing 311,166 workers across 11,234 establishments. Some of the skills needed for success in the Manufacturing industry include manufacturing process design, development, maintenance, repair, knowledge of and compliance with government regulations, as well as the ability to adapt and consider new ways of doing things. Manufacturing encourages creativity and analytical thinking, with an opportunity for a meaningful and rewarding career with good pay and advancement in the areas of Production, Business Operations and Sales, and Engineering and Maintenance. |
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| Cost of Living First Quarter 2026 Missouri was tied with Iowa for the seventh-lowest cost of living in the United States for the first quarter of 2026. In general, the most expensive areas to live in were Hawaii, Alaska, the Northeast, and the West Coast. The least expensive areas were the Midwest and Southern states. Missouri’s cost of living index for the first quarter 2026 was 88.6. MERIC derives the cost-of-living index for each state by averaging the indices of participating cities and metropolitan areas in that state. |
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| Missouri Year-to-Year Job Postings - April 2026 Job postings in Missouri increased 8.7 percent from April 2025 to April 2026. In April 2026, there were 70,760 online postings compared to 65,120 in April 2025. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers had the largest increase in job postings over the year (37%), while Retail Salespersons had the largest decrease (-13%). By industry, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services had the largest increase (23%) over the year, while Retail Trade had the largest decrease (-6%). |
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| Southeast Region Profile The Southeast Region includes 13 counties, with Cape Girardeau as the region’s largest city. The region has an estimated 356,455 residents with per capita personal income totaling $50,926. The Southeast Region has above average employment concentrations in Mining (except Oil and Gas); Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers; Crop Production; Social Assistance; Wood Product Manufacturing; Nursing and Residential Care Facilities; and Truck Transportation. |
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| Occupational Handbook: Food Service Managers Food Service Managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants or other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages. Food Service Managers typically need a high school diploma and several years of work experience in the food service industry. Some receive additional training at community colleges, technical or vocational schools, culinary schools, or four-year colleges. The average annual wage for food service managers was $67,150 in Missouri and $74,880 nationally in 2024. |
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| Real Time Labor Report: Hospitality The Hospitality industry includes the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector; travel accommodations such as hotels, motels, and more; and food service sectors like food and drinking outlets. Establishments in this sector can be found in every county in Missouri. During 2025, there were over 51,000 online job postings for the Hospitality industry statewide. The top occupation was Food Service Managers, which made up 11 percent of total industry job postings with an average salary of $67,150. Durable skills, such as Customer Service, Communication, and Leadership, ranked in the top 10 common skills for the Hospitality industry. Customer Service skills were requested in over 40 percent of the job postings. |
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| Missouri Apprenticeship Outcomes Registered Apprenticeships are an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway in which workers can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a transferable credential while employers develop and prepare their future workforce. New P20W research explores the demographics, occupations, completions, and outcomes for apprentices in Missouri. Insights from the report show many apprenticeship occupations show strong wage outcomes, especially for those who fully complete the apprenticeship. |
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| Population by City 2025 Midsized cities had steady population growth in 2025 amid a widespread slowdown in population growth nationwide, according to Vintage 2025 Population Estimates recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Missouri had 37 cities with a population of 20,000 residents or more in 2025. Of those, Republic had the largest population increase from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025 with an increase of 5.9 percent, followed by Raymore (2.6%), Wentzville (2.0%), Warrensburg (1.7%), and Ozark (1.3%). Data for all Missouri cities can be found in this latest update from the U.S. Census Bureau. |
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| Career Pathway: Financial and Professional Services Missouri has a strong presence in the Financial and Professional Services industry and is home to several Fortune 1000 companies in the sector. Career pathways in Legal Services, Business Operations, Sales and Marketing, and Finance and Insurance Services offer opportunities for employment and advancement. For success in the field, familiarity with relevant regulations, codes, and laws imposed by regulatory agencies is crucial. Knowledge of business operations, financial reporting, and technology applications are some of the skills that are commonly needed to work in this sector. |
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| Missouri Business Index for April Missouri’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) increased 15.2 points to 65.6 in April 2026. The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, remained above growth neutral for a third straight month. This index measures such factors as new orders, production, supplier delivery times, backlogs, inventories, prices, employment, import orders and exports. Typically, a score greater than 50 indicates an expansionary economy while a score below 50 forecasts a sluggish economy. The US April 2026 PMI® for manufacturing registered 52.7, unchanged from the March index. |
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| March Job Postings Comparison Job postings increased 24.2 percent from March 2025 to March 2026. In March 2026, there were 78,750 online job postings compared to 63,410 in March 2025. Each of the top 10 occupations for job postings increased in volume compared to last year. Registered Nurses had both the largest number of posting in the month and largest year-over-year increase. |
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| New Business Formations Rise in April There were more than 503,000 business applications in the U.S. in April 2026, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Adjusted for seasonal variation, applications were up 2.1 percent compared to March. Business applications data provide an early look at the business formation activity based on employer identification number (EIN) applications. In Missouri, there were 8,933 applications in April, an increase of 5.2 percent. |
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| GDP by State, 4th Quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a comprehensive measure of the economy, estimating the value of the goods and services produced in each state. Real GDP increased in 35 states in the fourth quarter of 2025, with North Carolina recording the largest increase in annualized percent change at 3.8 percent and the District of Columbia recording the largest decrease at 8.3 percent. GDP was unchanged in Indiana and Maine. Missouri’s GDP increased by 0.8 percent. |
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| Real Time Labor Report: Health Care Science and Services The Health Care Science and Services industry includes health care and scientific research and development services sectors. In 2025, there were over 145,000 online job postings for the Health Care Science and Services industry. Nursing occupations made up the largest portion of total industry job postings for the period. Along with specialized skills in health care and nursing, job postings in the industry also commonly requested durable skills such as communication, leadership, and compassion. |
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| Career Pathway: Education Career Pathways are groups of occupations within a career field that share common skills, knowledge, and interests. From Office Support to Instructors and Administrators, there are various job opportunities in the Education sector. Most employees in the Education sector interact with students and others daily, so being able to communicate effectively, both individually and in groups, is necessary. For instructors, knowledge of subject matter, the ability to adapt teaching methods and materials to meet students’ needs, and the ability to evaluate students’ work and progress are important. |
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| Mother's Day Fun Facts 2026 Consumer spending on Mother’s Day is expected to reach a record $38 billion this year, according to National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The amount surpasses last year’s total spending of $34.1 billion and exceeds the previous record of $35.7 billion set in 2023. There are nearly 11,000 restaurants in Missouri in which to celebrate this special occasion. |
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| Job Ads Comparison - February 2026 Job postings increased 18.2 percent from February 2025 to February 2026. In February 2026, there were 73,470 online job postings compared to 62,180 in February 2025. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.9 percent in Missouri in February 2026 and decreased slightly from the February 2025 rate of 4 percent. Postings for Registered Nurses increased 90 percent, mostly due to an increase in postings from medical staffing companies. First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers had the only decrease in job postings over the period (-1%). |
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| Occupational Handbook: Material Moving Machine Operator Material moving machine operators use equipment to transport objects. For example, some operators move goods around factories and storage areas or onto container ships, while others move construction materials around building sites. Most material moving machine operators work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Since materials are shipped around the clock, some operators work overnight shifts. Education requirements vary by occupation. Crane and tower operators are one example of a material moving machine operator. In Missouri, the average wage for the occupation was $60,110 in 2024. |
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| Career Pathways: Construction Career Pathways are groups of occupations within a career field that share common skills, knowledge, and interests. Some of the skills that may be needed for success in Construction are craftsmanship, both building and construction design, building, and installation, as well as business fundamental skills such as contracts, budgeting, and cost estimating. Click on the link above to learn more about Construction career pathways in the areas of skilled trades and engineering and quality control. |
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| Missouri Per Capita Personal Income 2025 Missouri’s per capita personal income was $67,587 in 2025, up 4.1 percent from 2024, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The U.S. per capita personal income was $76,393 in 2025 – an increase of 4.3 percent. |
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| Missouri Job Postings for March Online job postings in Missouri increased from 73,470 in February 2026 to 78,750 in March 2026. Retail Trade had 8,040 openings in the state with Retail Salespersons and First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers topping the online postings in that industry sector. |
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| Ozark Region Profile The Ozark Region is comprised of seven counties, including Greene County, which is home to Springfield, the region’s largest city. The average annual wage for all occupations in the Ozark Region in 2024 was $52,771. The Office and Administrative Support, Transportation and Material Moving, and Food Preparation and Serving Related occupation groups employed the largest number of people in the region. |
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| Missouri Business Index for March Missouri’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for March 2026 decreased 8.8 percent to 50.4 from a region high of 59.2 in February. The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, moved above growth neutral for March to its highest level since March 2025. It measures such factors as new orders, production, supplier delivery times, backlogs, inventories, prices, employment, import orders and exports. Typically, a score greater than 50 indicates an expansionary economy while a score below 50 forecasts a sluggish economy. The US March 2026 PMI® for Manufacturing registered 52.7, up 0.3 from February. |
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| Target Industry: Energy Solutions The Energy Solutions industry includes professional, scientific, and technical services, as well as wholesale and other services sectors. Energy Solutions represents nearly 5 percent of total private sector employment in Missouri, employing 122,349 workers across 7,934 establishments in the state. Within this sector, Missouri has a higher employment concentration in Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing compared to the national average. |