Recent issues
Vol. 7, Issue 4: Child Care Trends – March 16, 2026 (PDF)
Missouri has an average of 4.6 available childcare slots for every 10 children under age 5. Nonmetro Missouri areas, however, have fewer than 3 slots for every 10 children. The annual cost of insufficient childcare access to Missouri businesses and workers tops $1 billion.
Vol. 7, Issue 3: Gross Domestic Product Trends – February 23, 2026 (PDF)
Missouri’s real GDP expanded by 6.6% from 2021 to 2024. Growth was led by the state’s metro areas. Nonmetro Missouri areas, however, did see faster 2021-24 GDP growth in health care and professional and business services. Roughly 59% of Missouri counties grew their economies from 2023 to 2024, compared to 74% of U.S. counties.
Vol. 7, Issue 2: Commuting Across Counties – February 2, 2026 (PDF)
Four in 10 Missouri payroll jobs were filled by out-of-county workers in 2003. By 2023, it was over half of all jobs. Nonmetro commuters travel an average of 28 miles one-way to work, compared to 16 miles for urban commuters. Missouri’s high level of commuting reinforces the need to “think regionally” when considering economic and workforce development strategies.