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Two Missouri Cities Among “Rising Star” Metros for Rapid Tech Job Growth

  • April 05, 2022

Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, have both been named among nine “rising star” metros that added new tech jobs at a brisk pace, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution.

Kansas City saw an average growth rate of 4.8% in their total tech jobs since 2015. The region recently welcomed an $800 million investment from Meta for a new data center. Meanwhile, St. Louis saw its tech growth rate increase from 3.9% over the 2015-19 period to 4.8% in 2020. Tech companies like Advocado and TierPoint have recently announced plans to expand in the region.

Missouri’s tech workforce is expected to grow even more in the coming years. Between 2018 and 2023, the state’s tech workforce is expected to grow by 9.5%, ranking it ninth among U.S. states. Missouri was also recently highlighted among the six hot emerging tech hubs for IT job seekers by CIO.

And Missouri isn’t resting on its laurels. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Missouri launched one of the state’s newest initiatives to increase the number of tech professionals in the state by targeting workers laid off due to COVID-19. The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development teamed up with CompTIA, a nonprofit technology trade association, to provide free tech training to individuals whose employment has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The technology workforce is one of the largest and fastest growing segments of the U.S. labor market, even amidst the continuing uncertainties of COVID-19,” said Mark Plunkett, Senior Director of Global Training Operations and Business Development for CompTIA Custom Training. “By committing resources to this unique training program, Missouri has taken a positive step to expand the state’s tech workforce. More importantly, the state is opening the door to new career options for some of its citizens.”

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