The STL West region provides access to an available and skilled workforce with skills sets relevant to a variety of industries. Businesses located in the region benefit from strong industry experience and a work ethic second to none.
| STL West Region | 40-Minute Drive Time | 60-Minute Drive Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population (2010) | 44,479 | 314,273 | 1,080,664 |
| Total Population (2020) | 48,438 | 362,252 | 1,105,499 |
| Population Change | +8% | +15% | +2% |
| Labor Pool (Age 16+) | 22,370 | 194,776 | 598,099 |
| % Unemployed | 11.2% | 10.1% | 11.8% |
| Median Age (2020) | 42.7 | 38 | 40 |
| Esri | |||
Employment by Industry |
|
|---|---|
| Industry | Employment % |
| Agriculture/Mining | 2.6% |
| Construction | 14.0% |
| Manufacturing | 17.4% |
| Wholesale Trade | 2.6% |
| Retail Trade | 8.4% |
| Transportation/Utilities | 4.9% |
| Information | 1.1% |
| Finance/Insurance/Real Estate | 6.2% |
| Services | 38.4% |
| Public Administration | 4.3% |
| American Community Survey | |
Montgomery and Warren Counties both are certified ACT Work Ready Communities.
Workforce Development
The STL West region along with its secondary and post-secondary education partners are committed to developing the local workforce and talent pipeline to meet the needs of the business community now and well into the future.
High School Career Readiness
Project Lead the Way – Public school districts throughout the region provide students with the opportunity to participate in Project Lead the Way. The national program includes numerous project-based learning initiatives that engage local employers and allow students to apply engineering, science, math and technology to solve complex, open ended problems in a real-world context. Courses include:
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Integrated Manufacturing
- Aerospace Engineering
- Digital Electronics
- Engineering Design & Development
- Introduction to Engineering Design
- Principles of Engineering
Post-Secondary & Career Readiness Training Programs
St. Charles Community College, Ranken Technical College, and State Technical College offer a variety of programs for students and have partnered with area businesses to provide on-the-job and customized training to meet the business community’s workforce training needs.
Visit here to learn more about the region’s post-secondary education providers.
State Training Programs
Missouri’s One Start Program is a program offered by the State of Missouri that provides tailored workforce strategy to address each business’s unique needs. Eligible businesses receive customized service ranging from pre-employment screening and recruitment to designing job-specific training both during and after the onboarding process at no cost to the company.
Contact the Access STL West team to learn more about the region’s workforce and available training program opportunities.