Recent issues
Vol. 5, Issue 7: Agritourism – May 13, 2024 (PDF)
Agritourism is rising in Missouri, as the number of farms and revenue increased roughly 22% between 2017 and 2022. With an average agritourism income of nearly $24,000 per operation, Missouri ranked 5th among its border states. Agritourism sales benefit when located near the state’s population centers; metro area operations had average sales of $35,902 compared to $11,802 for nonmetro locations.
Vol. 5, Issue 6: Housing Age and Energy Efficiency – April 22, 2024 (PDF)
More than a quarter (26.9%) of Missouri’s houses were constructed before 1940, and more than half of Missouri’s housing stock was built between 1960 and 1999. Between 2020 and 2022, new construction added nearly 1.7 million units to the national housing stock, representing only 2% of owner-occupied homes.
Vol. 5, Issue 5: Aging Workforce: Trends & Challenges – April 1, 2024 (PDF)
Between 2013 and 2023, Missouri saw a significant increase in its workforce aged 55 and over, growing by nearly 126,000—a 29% increase. In 2023, the 55+ working population accounted for 23% of the state’s workforce, up from 20% in 2013. Some industries, like agriculture, are especially vulnerable due to a higher concentration of older workers—25% are over 55 in Missouri; 32% across the U.S. Across the country, industries with the highest percentages of workers over 55 include manufacturing (28%), wholesale trade (28%), real estate, rentals and leasing (29%), and utilities (25%).