With more than 3 million highly educated workers, Missouri’s growing, diverse population is a strong point of difference among other Midwest states. In fact, Missouri’s substantial number of skilled employees exceeds the entire populations of 20 states, including Kansas, Arkansas, and Nebraska.
Missouri workers support a wide range of industries in the state with their diverse skill sets, while earning average wages significantly lower than the national average.



(Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2011)
Missouri boasts a workforce with a greater level of educational attainment than the national average, in addition to having 138 post-secondary educational institutions, more than most other midwestern states.
Missouri also offers several highly successful workforce training programs.
All of these factors combined make Missouri's people its greatest resource, and one of the main reasons why so many businesses find success here.
To learn more about Missouri's workforce, download our Workforce and Demographic profiles.