Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development

From 2020–25, net migration increased the average Missouri county population by 2.1%, with nonmetro counties experiencing a greater share of in-migrants compared to metro counties.

A 2025 Northwest Missouri survey finds that area ties and health care access are top location considerations for all respondents. However, newcomers placed greater importance on amenities such as broadband access than did longtime residents.

This recent survey, and a similar one in 2020, show that newcomers are more likely to participate in some civic activities, like serving in leadership roles, that can make them a valuable community resource.

Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief on the Exceed website. Link in the comments below.

Missouri (77.2%) has a higher percentage of veterans in the civilian workforce compared to its border states (76.7%), falling just below the national average (77.5%).

Veteran labor force participation is lower than the general population primarily due to a higher prevalence of service-connected disabilities, earlier retirement ages supported by military pensions, and challenges translating military skills to civilian roles.

While many veterans find high-earning jobs, roughly one in three non-working veterans report disabilities, reducing overall participation.

To view the data, please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a resource from the University of Wisconsin, compiles data on a wide range of healthcare indicators across the United States, including access to mental health services. One of its most useful measures is the ratio of mental health care providers to residents at the state and county levels.

In Missouri, access to mental health care varies significantly by location. Shannon County has the most limited access, with just one provider for every 7,280 residents. In contrast, St. Louis City has far greater availability, with one provider for every 150 residents.

Compared to national averages in the United States, Missouri lags slightly behind. The state has approximately one mental health care provider for every 360 residents, while the national average is closer to one provider per 290 residents.

To view the data please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

Missouri was the nation’s 18th largest state in 2025, with a population of 6.27 million. Between 2024 and 2025, the Show-Me State added more than 27,000 residents, representing an annual growth rate of 0.4%.

Population shifts occur from natural change (the difference between births and deaths) and from domestic and international migration. From 2020 to 2025, Missouri’s population increased by 115,000, or 1.9%.

Missouri experienced a natural decrease in population over those years, as deaths exceeded births by more than 12,000. Offsetting that natural change was migration into the state, as 70,000 international migrants and 57,000 domestic migrants moved to Missouri.

Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief on the Exceed website. Link in the comments below.

The United States Energy Information Administration offers insights into how electric power is generated, how this generation differs between states, and the consumption of energy by different industries among other things.

In January 2026, Missouri generated 60% of its electricity using coal, second only to Kentucky (65%) among neighboring states. Missouri (11%) also used significantly less natural gas than the national average (38%), and less hydroelectric (1% and 7%, respectively).

Missouri’s use of nuclear and wind power closely mirrors national averages. Illinois (48%) and Tennessee (43%) lead on nuclear power generation. On wind, Oklahoma stands out with half of its portfolio attributable to this source.

To view the data, please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank has released a new set of data visualization tools, known as the LMI Data Books, that highlight demographic, housing, and employment trends among low- to moderate-income populations. These tools make it easy to compare data across the seven states in the KC Fed’s district.

In Missouri and among neighboring district states, housing cost burdens vary for lower-income households earning $35,000 to $50,000. Missouri has the lowest share, spending more than 30% of their income on housing, at 30.5%. Nebraska has the highest share (37.6%).

A decade earlier, the situation in Missouri looked quite different. Only one in four lower-income households spent more than 30% of their income on housing.

To view the data, please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

On average, metropolitan (86%) Missouri counties have higher prime-age (ages 25 to 54) 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. Some industries, like agriculture, are more affected by this trend than others with over a third of the labor force over the age of 55.

Counties in the western half of Missouri and along the Missouri and Mississippi River corridors generally see the highest participation rates. Late-career workers represented 38% of Missouri’s workforce in 2024, up from 29% in 2015.

Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief on the Exceed website. Link in the comments below.

Missouri 211 call data from United Way, analyzed by the Health Communication Research Laboratory and the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, shows monthly information on housing, utilities, food, transportation, health care, and disaster relief referrals for assistance. The data are available across multiple geographies, including counties, ZIP codes, legislative districts, and school districts.

For example, an analysis of Missouri 211 calls over the past year found that Missouri Senate District 28, covering much of west-central Missouri, had the highest proportion of calls related to housing and shelter needs (41%), the majority of which were requests for rental assistance. This was slightly lower than the state average of 42%.

Missouri 211 data offer a real-time view of how events like natural disasters and economic shifts affect local communities and were recently featured in a St. Louis Federal Reserve analysis. Still, the data has important limitations: reporting differences across states may understate need, and 211 calls do not capture people who seek services directly.

To view the data please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

The American Community Survey (ACS) collects detailed information on social, economic, housing, and demographic trends. Its housing data offer valuable insights into the share of newer homes—those built since 2009—among all occupied housing units across the United States and within each state.

In Missouri, the data show that Warren County leads among metropolitan counties, with 21.3% of occupied housing units built after 2009. Among non-metropolitan counties, Pulaski County ranks highest, with 19.7% of its occupied housing constructed after 2009.

To view the data please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

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.

A new program, Missouri Child Care Works, is designed to make childcare more affordable by spreading the cost among employers, employees, and public or philanthropic partners.

This Tri-share model, where costs are shared, is being piloted in several states as part of a potential solution to the childcare crisis.

Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief on the Exceed website. Link in the comments below.