A look at the top industries in Missouri shows a trend that is being repeated throughout much of the country. Manufacturing, once the lifeblood of the economy, has been outpaced by health care and retail. Which parts of the economy are strongest in the Show Me State? Here is a look at the top five industries in Missouri.
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1. Health Care and Social Assistance
The Bureau of Labor Statistics developed an animated map that shows the leading industries in each state from 1990 through 2013. Of the industries
in Missouri, health care and social assistance topped the list in 2013. This industry includes ambulatory health care services, hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, and social assistance, In Missouri some of the leading employers are hospitals and health care-related businesses. For example,
more than 100,000 people are employed as registered nurses or nursing assistants, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2. Retail
Retail salespeople, food prep workers, waiters/waitresses, cashiers, and fast food workers number about 270,000 of Missouri’s total workforce.
3. Advanced Manufacturing
Manufacturing in Missouri is being redefined to reflect a national trend. Advanced manufacturing places heavy emphasis on emerging sciences like nanotechnology, as well as the latest in automation and software technology.
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In Missouri,
advanced technology runs the gamut from aerospace products and parts to HVAC and commercial refrigeration equipment. The manufacturing workforce in Missouri adds up to more than 250,000 people.
4. Financial and Professional Services
Missouri is in the top 10 states for financial sector job growth. Many of the state’s colleges and universities prepare students for jobs in finance and accounting by offering related bachelor’s or higher degrees. About 11 percent of the state’s workforce is employed in the financial and professional services.
5. Agriculture and Bioscience
In order to remain viable, a state that once relied heavily on farming for its economy must now broaden its knowledge base. Food science, bioscience, and plant science are becoming an important factor in Missouri’s economy as the state reaches beyond agriculture. Higher education appears dedicated to helping one of the most important industries in Missouri grow. The University of Missouri, for example, has schools of agriculture, medicine, and veterinary medicine on one campus.
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