Thanks in large part to investments by Ford (Kansas City) and General Motors (St. Louis), Missouri’s auto employment is once again rising. Recent data showed an annual employment gain of 36.1 percent, far ahead of other states with major auto manufacturing operations. Since bottoming out in July 2010, employment in auto manufacturing is up 216 percent across the state. St. Louis in particular was hit hard by the closing of the two plants in 2006 and 2009 by Ford and Chrysler.

1. St. Louis
Chart of the week: May 18, 2015
Source: JLL Research, BLS
Missouri auto employment surging
• Thanks in large part to investments by Ford (Kansas City) and General Motors (St. Louis), Missouri’s
auto employment is once again rising. Recent data showed an annual employment gain of 36.1
percent, far ahead of other states with major auto manufacturing operations. Since bottoming out in
July 2010, employment in auto manufacturing is up 216 percent across the state. St. Louis in
particular was hit hard by the closing of the two plants in 2006 and 2009 by Ford and Chrysler.
• The growth in auto has been great for the local industrial market which has had many suppliers lease
space in St. Louis. There are now plans for a new supplier park near GM’s Wentzville plant.
36.1%
16.9%
13.1%
9.6%
5.3%
2.0% 1.8%
-2.5%
-5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
MO CA KY AL MI IN OH TX
Annual change in auto manufacturing employment