South Central

The South Central Region of Missouri includes 12 counties and key cities like West Plains and Poplar Bluff. In 2023, the region employed 78,500 workers, making up 2.6% of Missouri’s workforce, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, higher than the state’s 3.0% average. The workforce is aging, with 24.4% of workers aged 55 or older, and the region has a higher disability rate (21.5%) compared to Missouri’s 12.3%. Educational attainment is lower than the state average, with only 22.1% of residents holding an associate degree or higher, while 16.1% have less than a high school education.

Key industries include health care and social assistance (11,100 jobs), manufacturing (8,300 jobs), and retail trade (7,900 jobs). The region saw a modest 0.8% employment growth from 2019 to 2023, with retail, accommodation and food services, and education gaining jobs, while health care and public administration declined. The wood product manufacturing and gasoline station industries have high employment concentrations, reflecting the region’s rural economy. Future job growth is expected in food services, social assistance, and manufacturing, with federal government employment also rising.

The highest-demand jobs include home health aides, cashiers, truck drivers, and retail salespersons, with strong growth projected for nurses, restaurant cooks, and maintenance workers. Online job postings show registered nurses, retail supervisors, and truck drivers among the most sought-after roles. Employers cite a lack of skilled applicants as a hiring challenge, with on-the-job training being a common solution. Long-term growth is expected in health care, professional services, and education, shaping the region’s workforce for the coming decade.