The unemployment rate was almost 4% in April 2025. That’s slightly up from 3.8% in March, but still below the national rate of 4.2%. Missouri has kept a lower unemployment rate than the U.S. for a decade... So far, so good. But...
But job growth is slowing. Nonfarm payroll jobs fell by 6,600 in April. Private industry lost 6,900 jobs. This follows a gain of nearly 14,000 jobs in March. Year-over-year, Missouri gained 4,200 jobs, mostly in private education and health services. But losses hit hard in hospitality, trade, and manufacturing.
In January, about 30,000 people were laid off or discharged. That’s 7.1% more than in January 2024.
Healthcare is seeing major cuts. Spectrum Healthcare in St. Louis laid off 280 workers in May. Most were nurses. The layoffs came after losing a federal contract. GEHA in Lee’s Summit cut 453 jobs between December and April. It provides health plans for federal employees.
Transportation and logistics are facing heavy losses.
- Penske Logistics in Kinloch is cutting 337 jobs in July.
- First Student is laying off 257 workers in St. Louis and Holden.
- Student Transportation of America will cut 212 jobs in Columbia.
- SP Plus in St. Louis is laying off 130.
- Hogan Services is cutting 53 jobs.
- Accelerate 360 will lay off 22 across the state.
- Jack Cooper cut 406 jobs in Liberty and 239 in Wentzville earlier in 2025.
Manufacturing is also shrinking. The sector lost 700 jobs between March and April. That’s a total drop of 2,600 jobs in the past year.
- Briggs & Stratton will close its Lee’s Summit site, cutting 90 jobs.
- The Timken Company in Springfield will lay off 97 employees by September.
- Royal Canin in Rolla will phase out 105 jobs through year-end.
- Legacy Pharmaceuticals in Earth City is cutting 77.
- International Paper in St. Louis laid off 72.
- Eaton Bussman in Ellisville will cut 57 jobs.
Finance and software are not immune.
- Broadridge Financial in Kansas City will close a site and cut 72 jobs.
- Block, Inc. will lay off 67 remote workers in Missouri.
Higher education is also affected. Fontbonne University in St. Louis is closing. It will lay off 80 employees between April and September.
Retail and call centers are struggling. US Cellular is closing its Missouri call center in June. The total number of cuts was not disclosed. True Value Company in Kansas City laid off 50 workers in April.
Despite these cuts, some investment is coming in. In January, nearly $136 million in new projects were announced. These include:
- IKO’s granule plant in Bismarck with 50+ jobs.
- OpenStore’s fulfillment center in Kansas City, adding 46 jobs.
- CAM Construction’s expansion in Glasgow, creating 30 jobs.
Missouri’s labor force participation rate is 63.4%, higher than the national average. This suggests a strong labor pool, even as payroll jobs fluctuate.
In summary, Missouri is holding steady but faces headwinds. Layoffs are happening in healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing. New investments are a bright spot, but job creation is uneven. The state’s economy is in transition, balancing job losses in key sectors with slow gains elsewhere.