Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development

In January 2025, there were 4.6 childcare slots for every 10 children under age 5 in Missouri, down from 4.7 slots a year earlier. Nonmetro counties had 3.1 slots for every 10 children, compared to 5.1 in metro counties. In the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief, Luke Dietterle of Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development and Sarah Kennedy explore the latest trends. Missouri had 81 fewer registered childcare facilities in January 2025, compared to a year earlier, and served 916 fewer children. Childcare employment of over 22,600 was 4% greater in 2024 compared to 2020. However, national childcare employment grew by 15% during that same period. In Missouri, the average annual cost of full-time care is $8,100—nearly 14% of a family’s median income. Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief at: https://lnkd.in/gAW-9-Xs #ExtendMU #BusComEx #MissouriSBDC

The United States Census Bureau offers a 2022 Economic Census dashboard for quickly viewing industry data. This tool allows users to explore industry data across the United States, with the option to break data down by state and county levels. Users can view important statistics such as revenue, employment, payroll, and the number of establishments. For instance, when examining Missouri’s Food Manufacturing industry, it shows that Buchanan County had the highest food manufacturing revenue in 2022. To learn more about the 2022 Economic Census dashboard, please visit: https://lnkd.in/enYv8Qbr For additional information, contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed. #ExtendMU #BusComEx #MissouriSBDC

Missouri ranks better than a third of U.S. states in food access, measured by the number and proximity of area grocery stores, but lags behind the majority (65%). In the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief, Annette Kendall and Luke Dietterle of Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development explore the latest trends. In 2021, 11.6% of Missouri households were food insecure, meaning they lacked access to adequate food due to financial or resource constraints. Food insecurity does not always align with low food access. Northeast Missouri counties have lower food access but only moderate to low food insecurity, suggesting residents may rely on alternative sources such as farmers markets, home gardens, food pantries or community support. Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief at: https://lnkd.in/gAW-9-Xs #ExtendMU #BusComEx #MissouriSBDC

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) is a monthly survey that collects data on job openings, hires, and separations. This data is gathered from a sample of about 21,000 U.S. businesses, collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through its JOLTS Data Collection Centers.    In November 2024, JOLTS reported that for every 10 job openings in the U.S., there were 9 unemployed individuals. In Missouri, however, the ratio was 6 unemployed individuals for every 10 job openings. Over the past year, Missouri has seen an increasing number of unemployed people, but the labor market has remained relatively tight since the pandemic.    To learn more about JOLTS, please visit:  https://lnkd.in/e2JaZQ9g      For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.   #ExtendMU #BusComEx #MissouriSBDC

The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) has released new data on Career Grades for Missouri, providing an easy way to compare occupations by job openings, projected growth, and average wages. MERIC organizes this data by region and categorizes occupations into “Now,” “Next,” and “Later” based on the required training or degree level. Each category includes the Career Grade and number of annual openings. In Northern Missouri, General Managers have the most annual openings (452) among higher-skilled jobs and score an A on the Career Grade scale. Check out the top Career Grades in your region! To learn more about Career Grades, please visit: https://lnkd.in/dQxJMGwk For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed. #ExtendMU #BusComEx #MissouriSBDC

Friendships matter and they can influence how individuals plan and implement locally led economic development projects. In the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief, Mallory Rahe and Alan Spell with Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development explore the latest trends. Bonding social capital, or the friendships between people who are similar, can support idea generation and team formation to start projects, bridging social capital, or friendships between people who are different can help groups access a wider range of skills, experience and resources to finish a project. Clustering, a measure of bonding social capital, measures how many of an individual’s Facebook friends are also friends with each other. Counties in blue had more tightly clustered relationships than the U.S. median of 11.5% in 2022. Rural Scotland County ranked highest at 15.7%, while St. Louis City ranked the lowest at 8.1%. Bridging social capital, or economic connectedness, is measured by the share of high-income (above-median) friends among those with low incomes (below-median). In 2022, counties in yellow on the map had higher economic connectedness than the U.S. median of 40.3%. In Missouri, St. Charles County ranked highest at 54.4%. In contrast, Pemiscot County ranked lowest at 29.2%. Explore your county’s social capital measures and think about how to build more social capital in your area. Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief at: https://lnkd.in/gAW-9-Xs #ExtendMU #BusComEx #MissouriSBDC

The U.S. Census Bureau's Veteran Employment Outcomes (VEO) tool now includes data for Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard veterans, in addition to Army veterans. This provides insights into veteran earnings by demographics, state, pay grade, and former military occupation. For Air Force veterans who left service between 2008-15, Unmanned Vehicle System (UVS) Operators had the highest median earnings ($83,420) after one year, followed by Data Processing roles ($77,730). In Missouri, Air Force veterans earned a median of $42,290 across all occupations, compared to the national median of $49,670. Home to several military installations, with a strong commitment to veteran support, Missouri can leverage this data to strengthen workforce development programs and improve veteran retention efforts. Explore the updated VEO tool here: https://lnkd.in/g__U2fn3. For more information, contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development.

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As snowy weather highlights the importance of flexible work arrangements, the latest Census Business Trends and Outlook Survey provides insights into how businesses across the U.S., including Missouri, are adapting. In Missouri, 24% of businesses reported having employees who worked remotely for at least one workday during the two weeks ending December 31, 2024. This percentage is comparable to neighboring states such as Arkansas (26%), Kentucky (24%) and Iowa (23%). Illinois (32%), Tennessee (30%), and Kansas (27%) were notably higher, while Oklahoma (22%) and Nebraska (19%) had the lowest remote working levels of the surrounding states. At the national level, the average for the same period was 31%, placing Missouri below the national trend but above several of its neighbors. Remote work trends continue to reshape how businesses operate, where employees choose to live, and the infrastructure investments communities prioritize. Understanding these shifts is critical for fostering economic resilience and addressing workforce needs. For more information, visit the Census Business Trends and Outlook Survey https://lnkd.in/g6dGQaKM. For additional information, contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development. #ExtendMU #BusComEx #MissouriSBDC

In 2023, Missouri proudly ranked 21st in the nation with a robust $430 billion economy, a real GDP increase of 2.6% from 2022 to 2023. In the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief, Luke Dietterle, Natalia Filimonova and Alan Spell of Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development – Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development explore the latest trends. Economic growth was widespread across the state, with 82% of Missouri's counties experiencing growth, a substantial rise from the 37% that saw similar progress in the previous year. The state's metro areas also enjoyed a 2.6% boost in real GDP, while nonmetro counties saw an even higher gain of 2.8%, reversing the prior year's slight decline of 0.2%. Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief at: https://lnkd.in/gKmwjxGZ #ExtendMU #BusComEx #MissouriSBDC