Trendsights Newsletter

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.
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.
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.
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.
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%).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Career Pathways: Transportation and Logistics
The Transportation and Logistics industry is the core of strategic supply chain management. Transportation and Logistics represents 9.8 percent of total private sector employment, employing over 243,000 workers in more than 19,000 establishments. Careers in the Transportation and Logistics industry often involve interactions with customers, so communication skills are important. Some of these jobs can also revolve around shifts and critical driving times. Consequently, dependability, along with being flexible when the situation demands it, are valued characteristics in this field.
Population by County 2025
Population growth slowed in a majority of the nation’s 3,143 counties and the District of Columbia between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to the Vintage 2025 population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. In Missouri, 30 of the 115 counties plus the City of St. Louis declined in population over the year. St. Louis County remains the state’s largest county, with a total population of more than 990,000.
In-Demand Technology Skills: Knowing the Code
Information Technology occupations are some of the most in-demand occupations in Missouri. More than 85,000 people were employed in Computer and Mathematical occupations in 2014, earning an average wage of $90,910. In the 34,000 online job ads for these occupations in Missouri in 2025, the top requested software and programming skills included SQL, Python, and Amazon Web Services.
Occupational Handbook: Computer Programmer
Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly. Programmers usually work in office settings, most commonly in the computer systems design and related services industry. Most computer programmers work full time and typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Most programmers specialize in several programming languages. In Missouri, the average wage for a Computer Programmer was $95,230 in 2024, with an estimated employment of 1,410.
Celebrating Pi Day with the U.S. Census Bureau
Pi, often represented by the mathematical symbol “π,” represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It’s common in math and science, with practical uses anywhere circles, spheres or ellipses are used. The first three digits of pi are 3.14, making March 14 the perfect day to celebrate this mathematical constant. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Res.224, a resolution supporting the designation of Pi Day, recognizing the importance of the National Science Foundation’s math and science programs, and encouraging schools to celebrate with activities focused on pi and the study of math. More than 85,000 Missourians are employed in Computer and Mathematical occupations.
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Dashboard
How much does a registered nurse earn in the Kansas City area? How many electricians are employed in southeast Missouri? These are the kinds of questions that the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data can answer. OEWS data provides employment and wage estimates for over 800 occupations in Missouri, as well as sub-state areas. This data is produced by conducting a survey of employers across Missouri in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Use this dashboard to explore occupation employment and wages for Missouri and its regions.
February Online Job Postings
Online job postings in Missouri decreased from 75,220 in January 2025 to 73,670 in February 2026. Health Care and Social Assistance had 16,910 openings in the state, with Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses topping the advertised occupations in that industry sector.
Federal Reserve Beige Book - Current Economic Conditions
The Beige Book is a Federal Reserve System publication about current economic conditions across the 12 Federal Reserve Districts. Published eight times per year, it characterizes regional economic conditions and prospects based on a variety of mostly qualitative information, gathered directly from each District's sources. Click on the link above to learn more about the economic activity nationally and in the 12 districts, including the Kansas City and St. Louis district reports.
Fortune 500: Missouri is Home to Eight Top Businesses
Eight Missouri-based companies were included in the 2025 Fortune 500 list, which is based on fiscal year 2024 revenue. Centene is the highest ranked Missouri company among Fortune 500 companies. The company dropped from 22nd in the rankings in 2024 to 23rd in 2025 but had a year-over-year revenue increase of 5.9 percent to reach $163 billion. Seven of Missouri’s Fortune 500 companies are in the St. Louis area, while one is in Springfield.
Missouri 2025 Annual Exports
Exports from Missouri to other countries decreased 3.5 percent from 2024 to 2025, totaling just under $18.68 billion. More than half of Missouri’s export income is to countries in North America. Canada purchased $5.8 billion in goods, led by the export industry of motor vehicles. Mexico ($4.3 billion) was the second largest, led by oilseeds and grains.
2020-2024 American Community Survey Estimates Available
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released new 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year average data. These statistics cover a broad range of topics about social, economic, demographic, and housing characteristics for all geographies, including the nation, states, counties, places, metros, and census tracts.
Missouri Business Index for January Postings
Missouri’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for January 2026 increased to 57.9 from 55.8 in December. Component indices of production (54.8), inventories (65.1), delivery lead time (57.0), and employment (62.5) helped raise Missouri’s overall index for the month. For the fourth time in the past five months, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, moved below growth neutral. 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.