Preparing Missouri’s workforce for a changing economy

Column by Rob Jones, director of Integrated Marketing Communications; Alan Spell, assistant extension professor; Rob Russell, senior program director, Business and Community; Doug Swanson, field specialist in labor and workforce development; Jeff Chalfant, assistant teaching professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology and 4-H state specialist in STEM.

The workforce can feel like a revolving door when new technology shows up. Every breakthrough brings opportunity, but it also brings worry about who might be pushed out.

Artificial intelligence may be today’s headline, but the fear that new technology could cost some people their jobs is not new. The pace of change may be faster, but the questions employers and employees are asking feel very familiar.

With unemployment holding near 4%, Missouri’s historically tight labor market continues to make it difficult for employers to find qualified workers. At the same time, many employees wonder if their jobs are secure. That concern is understandable, especially as headlines increasingly suggest AI could replace entire occupations.

What employers continue to value

Missouri employers are clear about what they need. Technical skills are essential as tools and systems evolve, and many businesses struggle to fill middle-skill jobs that require training but not necessarily a four-year degree.

At the same time, employers consistently emphasize foundational skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, reliability and professionalism. Maintaining strong foundational skills is one way that employees can ensure continued success in the workforce. These skills endure because they enable people to adapt as tools change. An employee who communicates well and works effectively on a team can learn new technology far more easily than someone who lacks those basics.

The pace of change

For employees, the pace of change can feel overwhelming. Many worry AI or automation could replace their jobs. Others question whether the time and money they invest in training will hold value.

For those balancing work, family and financial responsibilities, training is a serious commitment. Employees want flexible options, clear connections to jobs and confidence that learning will lead somewhere meaningful.

This uncertainty affects everyone. Employees feel expectations are shifting. Employers feel the workforce is unprepared. In reality, both are responding to the same forces. That reality highlights the need for workforce education that is relevant, targeted and flexible enough to keep up.

Workforce solutions that work

This is where University of Missouri Extension plays an important role. MU Extension focuses on practical workforce solutions that blend technical training with the foundational skills employers value.

Through continuing education programs, MU Extension helps working professionals adapt to new technologies, strengthen foundational skills and maintain credentials. These programs are designed to fit around work schedules and evolving job demands. The MU Career Accelerator, for example, helps employers across industries upskill their workforce while giving employees flexible ways to build new skills without leaving their jobs.

Workforce development also starts early. Through Missouri 4-H, MU Extension helps young people build teamwork, communication, leadership and responsibility while exposing them to careers in agriculture, health care, STEM and skilled trades. These experiences prepare the next generation for careers that can evolve over time.

Fully addressing workforce challenges requires partnership between businesses, employees, communities and educational institutions. When those groups stay connected, needs can be communicated quickly and solutions delivered just as quickly. Without that coordination, industries slow down and Missouri risks losing talent to other states.

Missouri’s workforce in transition

Missouri’s economy is evolving, but it rests on a strong foundation. Agriculture, manufacturing, health care and construction remain central to the state’s workforce, and trades and other hands-on professions are expected to remain in high demand.

Fears about technology replacing jobs are not new. When personal computers became widespread, many predicted automation would eliminate occupations. Instead, technology reshaped work, created new roles and raised expectations for problem-solving and communication. Many of today’s careers grew out of those shifts.

The same pattern is unfolding now. Technology is reshaping work, not eliminating it. In the trades, digital tools and automation are improving efficiency and safety. In health care, new systems are transforming documentation and diagnostics, yet demand for skilled professionals continues to grow. Technology may change how work gets done, but it does not remove the need for people to do it.

Meeting this moment also means investing in the people already in our workforce. Giving existing employees opportunities to build new skills strengthens organizations and often proves more effective than constantly searching for replacement talent.

Looking ahead

Preparing Missouri’s workforce for the future will take more than mastering new tools. It will take professionals with strong foundational skills. It will take employers who guide their teams through change and invest in their development.

It will also take partnership. When businesses, employees, communities and educational institutions stay connected and responsive, we create a workforce that is prepared for change rather than fearful of it.

In the end, the qualities that will prepare Missouri for a technological future are the qualities that make us human. If we strengthen those qualities alongside the skills required by new technology, we will not just keep up with change. We will shape it.