Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development

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Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development

University of Missouri Extension Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development

University of Missouri Extension's Exceed program focuses on regional economic and entrepreneurial development. Exceed assists decision-makers with data-driven regional economic development strategies and industry studies. We routinely partner with businesses, communities, regions, governments, and nonprofits to enhance economic and entrepreneurial opportunities. Learn more by visiting our website: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/exceed-community-economic-and-entrepreneurial-development

09/02/2026

What do Missouri graduates in your major typically earn? Some majors, like engineering, often lead to higher starting salaries. Others, such as business, may start with lower pay but offer strong earnings growth as graduates gain experience.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) tool makes it easy to explore earnings and employment outcomes for college graduates by degree level, major, institution, and state. In Missouri, for example, the data shows a noticeable long-term earnings gap by field of study.

Whether you’re a prospective student, a parent, or an advisor helping someone weigh their options, the PSEO tool can help you understand how a major connects to long-term career outcomes.

Explore the data using the link in the comments. For additional information or questions, contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

08/18/2026

How much does Missouri benefit from outdoor recreation?

Outdoor recreation contributes $10.67 billion to Missouri’s economy, accounting for 2.4% of the state's gross domestic product (GDP).

Missouri has a high concentration of hunting-related spending, representing a potential competitive advantage in outdoor recreation.

Nearly 20 million Missouri state park visitors and their related household spending supported 11,900 jobs in 2025.

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

08/13/2026

Economic and community developers—don’t miss the 2026 CEC Conference in Maryville!

Join colleagues from across the region for inspiring breakout sessions, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities.

Catch Alan Spell and Luke Dietterle of Exceed at the breakout session: “How do you ‘Do’ Economic Development? Tips for understanding your economy, who the key players are, and how to bring them together.”

Register for the conference by using the QR code in the graphic or with the link in the comments below.

07/28/2026

Where do workers in your metro come from, and where do they go when they change jobs? The U.S. Census Bureau's Jobs-to-Jobs Flows tool makes it easy to explore worker movement in your area and beyond.

In the Springfield metro, for example, 85% of workers entering or leaving the region are from other Missouri counties (which is typical, as metros largely exchange workers from counties just outside their urban borders). Beyond Missouri, Springfield exchanged the most workers with Kansas, with nearly 300 moving to and from the state last year. However, the largest net gains came from Texas and Florida. The industry driving most of these long-distance moves to Springfield was transportation and warehousing.

Whether you’re an economic developer, business leader, or simply curious about your local labor market, the Jobs-to-Jobs Flows tool can help you better understand the workforce connections shaping your community.

Explore the tool using the link in the comments below. If you have questions or need help using the tool, contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

07/14/2026

Missouri’s young labor force is shrinking: the population aged 16 to 24 declined 2.8% over the past decade, leaving 21,000 fewer potential youth workers. Despite this decline, Missouri youth participate in the labor market at a rate above the national average.

16% of Missouri’s private-sector jobs are held by employees under age 25, with most employment in restaurants and retail. As the youth population continues to shrink, upskilling and career advancement will become increasingly important.

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

07/01/2026

Missouri’s economy grew at a steady 0.6% pace during the first three months of 2026, outpacing neighboring Illinois (0.5%), Iowa (-0.1%) and Nebraska (-0.9%). Arkansas was the only neighboring state to match the U.S. growth rate of 2.1%.

Among Missouri’s largest employing industries, construction (2.8%), information (2.4%), and retail trade (2.1%) led in GDP growth. Missouri saw growth across industries with only management, educational services, and agriculture experiencing negative growth.

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

06/16/2026

According to the 2022 U.S. Census of Agriculture, 116,617 farms nationwide sold products through direct sales channels. Among border states, Missouri leads in the number of farms (3,215) selling direct-to-consumer, with sales reported in 106 of 114 counties.

Missouri is home to more than 150 farmers markets. Roughly 2/3 of Missouri counties have at least one farmers market, with St. Louis (12), Jackson (9), and Green (8 ) having the highest concentrations.

About 1/3 of Missourians have made local food purchases from a venue other than a farmers market (e.g., on-farm sales, community supported agriculture).

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

06/03/2026

Across all U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) job growth in the first quarter of 2026 remained flat. The median MSA experienced no change in employment in Q1 2026 compared to one year ago. Merced, CA (3.3%) topped all MSAs in job growth with the Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ (-4.6%) MSA experiencing the greatest loss.

Missouri’s MSAs, except for St. Louis, experienced job growth with Columbia (1.86%) and Joplin (1.66%) leading the way, ranking 17 and 19, respectively among all U.S. MSAs. Despite the state’s MSAs experiencing growth, Missouri experienced a loss (-0.29%) ranking 40th among states.

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

05/19/2026

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.

05/13/2026

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.

Address

1100 University Avenue
Columbia, MO
65211

Website

https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/exceed-community-economic-and-entrepreneurial-development

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