Recent issues
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.
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.