Recent issues
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.
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.