Recent issues
Vol. 7, Issue 7: Newcomers Bring Community Change – May 18, 2026 (PDF)
From 2020–25, net migration increased the average Missouri county population by 2.1%, with nonmetro counties experiencing a greater share of in-migrants compared to metro counties. A 2025 Northwest Missouri survey finds that area ties and health care access are top location considerations for all respondents. However, newcomers placed greater importance on amenities such as broadband access than did longtime residents.
Vol. 7, Issue 6: 2020 to 2025 Population Trends – April 27, 2026 (PDF)
Missouri, the nation’s 18th-largest state, grew its population by 0.4% from 2024 to 2025. From 2020 to 2025, population gains in Missouri’s nonmetro counties lagged metro areas but outpaced growth in comparable U.S. nonmetro counties. The strongest population gains over five years were concentrated in recreation-dependent Missouri counties, reflecting a broader national pattern as these areas continue to attract retirees.
Vol. 7, Issue 5: Labor Force Trends – April 6, 2026 (PDF)
On average, metropolitan (86%) Missouri counties have higher prime-age labor force participation than nonmetropolitan (78%) counties. Between 2015 and 2024, Missouri’s prime-age workforce decreased by over 38,000 workers, a roughly 2% decline. Late-career workers represented 38% of Missouri’s workforce in 2024, up from 29% in 2015.