Changes in Wage and Salary Employment 1992-2002
The annual Bureau of Economic Analysis REIS (Regional Economic Information System) reports the number of persons counted as full- and/or part-time employed for counties, regions and states. In the BEA reports employment is divided into two broad categories: wage and salary workers, (persons who work for a paycheck) and the total number of farm and non-farm proprietors (those who own and operate their own business). In 1992 the BEA reported 2,977,374 Missourians employed full- and part-time. That number increased to 3,477,873 million employed by 2002 – an increase of more than 500,000 (16.8 percent). That is significant because it is a much larger percent increase than the 9 percent increase in population during those years.
Of the 2,977,374 total employed in 1992, 2,469,417 were employed as wage and salary workers (82.9 percent of total employment). The remaining 17.1 percent (507,957) were counted as either farm or non-farm proprietors. Of the 3,477,873 total employed in Missouri in 2002, 2,829,881 (81.4 percent of total employment) were employed as wage and salary workers.
| Map 1 click map for larger version 
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Changes in Wage and Salary Employment among Missouri Counties, 1992-2002
Table 1 shows that Missouri wage and salary employment increased by 14.6 percent from 1992-2002. However, as shown on Map 1 and supported by data from Table 1, there were significant differences among the counties in the amount of change. At the two extremes there were 17 counties which had a decline in wage and salary employment from 1992-2002 while there were 43 counties in which wage and salary employment increased by more than 20.0 percent.
Although there were 20 counties that had a wage and salary employment increase of greater than 30 percent, there were six of those counties which had an increase of greater than 50 percent. Among those six, the largest increase was in Taney County (Branson) with a 1992-2002 increase of 75.2 percent followed by neighboring Christian County with an increase of 69.5 percent. In Taney County there was great growth in hospitality, retail and construction industries during the 1990s creating a strong local demand for workers. In the case of Christian County there was great population growth with many of those workers choosing to live in Christian County while commuting to work, especially in Greene and Taney Counties. Other exceptionally large increases were the 62.6 percent in Mercer County, Cass County with an increase of 58.8 percent, and St. Charles and Lincoln counties in the St. Louis Metro area with increases of 51.7 and 51.6 percent respectively. With the exception of Mercer County, the other three counties with exceptional employment growth are suburban with heavy dependence on commuting to work in other metro counties.
| Map 2 click map for larger version 
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Map 2 shows significant variation among Missouri counties in the proportion of total county employment accounted for by wage and salary workers. The map shows 19 counties in which wage and salary workers account for more than 80 percent of total county employment. Most of those counties are core metro counties with relatively little agricultural employment. Not surprisingly the highest percentage in the state (93.7%) is in St. Louis City. Other metro core counties in this category include: Jackson (88.1%), St. Louis (87.3%), Cole (87.2%), Buchanan (86.1%), Boone (84.7%), Greene (83.5%), St. Charles (82.4%), Platte (82.0%), Clay (81.3%) and Jasper (81.1%). Other counties in this category include some, such as Pulaski (89.3%), having a dominant government employer (Fort Leonard Wood) and others have a college and several other major institutional employers including, Cape Girardeau (83.2%), St. Francois (80.1%), Marion (79.6%) and Butler (80.3%). In addition two Bootheel counties, New Madrid (83.7%) and Pemiscot (80.0%) have a high proportion of wage and salary workers even though agriculture is dominant. A reason for that is that farms in the Bootheel, even though highly productive, are large and relatively few in number and they employ a relatively significant number of wage workers.
Map 2 also shows there are 31 counties in which fewer than 60 percent of full- and part-time county workers are wage and/or salary workers. Most of those counties are relatively small population rural counties and most have a relatively significant number of farmers and many nonfarm businesses are owner-operated. In other words, proprietors both farm and non-farm are a relatively high percentage of workers in those counties. There are, however, a few exceptions. Four of the counties surrounding Springfield, (Christian, Webster, Dallas, Dade) each has less than 60 percent of their employed classified as wage and salary worker. Those four counties also have a relatively large number of farms as well as owner-operated businesses despite their recent population growth.
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OSEDA Regional Grouping of Counties Many demographic factors vary by region within the state of Missouri. For the convenience of our user community, OSEDA prepares tables using three different regional groupings of counties: Extension, Economic Development and Transportation. For each of these groupings, one table summarizes the indicators by regional total and a second table shows values for each county grouped by region. Users may select the county grouping most helpful for their application and understanding. |
Changes in Wage and Salary Employment among Missouri Regions, 1992-2002
By University of Missouri Extension Regions
Table 2 shows that wage and salary employment increased from 1992 -2002 by more than 11.5 percent in seven of the eight Extension regions. The greatest percentage increase (27.5%) occurred in the Southwest Region, followed by a 22.0 percent increase in the Central Region and a 19.0 percent increase in the South Central Region. Table 3 shows that wage and salary employment increased by more than 20 percent in 12 of the 17 region counties. Similarly, wage and salary employment increased by more than 20 percent in five of the 14 Central Region counties.
The smallest increase occurred in the Northeast Region which had an increase of only 7.5 percent. In seven of the region’s 15 counties wage and salary employment declined from 1992-2002.
Although wage and salary employment increased by only 11.5 percent in the East Central Region, the numerical gain of employment in the region was 122,598 – more than one-third of the state’s total gain. Other large numerical gains occurred in the Southwest Region with an increase of 73,883 and in the West Central Region with a gain of 66,171. Together, those three regions accounted for 73 percent of Missouri’s total 1992-2002 increase in wage and salary employment.
Table 3 also shows that wage and salary employment ranged from as low as 69.8 percent of total employment in the Northeast Region to as high as 86.4 percent of total employment in the East Central Region.
By Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) Regions
Table 4 shows that wage and salary employment increased from 1992-2002 by more than 11.2 percent in 11 of the 13 DED Regions. The greatest percentage increase (32.1%) occurred in the Springfield-Branson Region, followed by a 22.6 and 22.3 percent increase respectively in the Lake Ozark-Rolla and the Central Region. Table 5 shows that all seven counties in the Springfield-Branson Region had an increase of wage and salary employment of greater than 20 percent. Two of the counties in that region, Taney and Christian had increases of 75.2 percent and 69.5 percent respectively, far above all other counties in the state. All counties in the Lake Ozark-Rolla Region increased (five by more than 20 percent) and in the Central Region six of the counties had increases of greater than 15 percent.
The smallest increases occurred in the Northeast Region which had an increase of only 6.0 percent and in the North Central Region with an increase of 8.7 percent. In the Northeast Region five of the region’s 12 counties experienced decline in wage and salary employment from 1992-2002.
Although wage and salary employment increased by only 11.2 percent in the St. Louis MSA, the numerical gain in the region was 116,271 – just under 1/3 of the state’s total gain. Other large numerical gains occurred in the Kansas City MSA with an increase of 61,484 and the Springfield-Branson Region with a gain of 53,174. Together, those three regions accounted for 64 percent of Missouri’s total 1992-2002 increase in wage and salary employment.
Table 5 also shows that wage and salary employment ranged from as low as 61.5 percent of total employment in the South Central Region and 64.0 percent in the North Central Region to as high as 86.7 percent of total employment in the St. Louis MSA.
By Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) Districts
Table 6 shows that wage and salary employment increased from 1992 -2002 by more than 12.1 percent in nine of the 10 MODOT Districts. The greatest percentage increase (30.4%) occurred in the Springfield District, followed by a 24.8 percent increase in the Jefferson City District. Table 7 shows that all but two of the 12 counties in the Springfield District had an increase of wage and salary employment, and nine of the 12 had an increase of greater than 20 percent. Two of the counties in that region, Taney and Christian had increases of 75.2 percent and 69.5 percent respectively, far above all other counties in the state. In the Jefferson City District all 13 counties increased in wage and salary employment with seven of the 13 increasing by more than 20.0 percent.
The smallest increase (6.7%) occurred in the North Central District which had an increase of only 6.7 percent. The North Central District also had 5 counties decline in wage and salary employment from 1992-2002.
Although wage and salary employment increased by only 10.8 percent in the St. Louis District the numerical gain in the district was 111,420 – just under one-third of the state’s total gain. Other large numerical gains occurred in the Kansas City District with an increase of 64,798 and the Springfield District with a gain of 56,858. Together, those three regions accounted for 65 percent of Missouri’s total 1992-2002 increase in wage and salary employment.
Table 7 also shows that wage and salary employment ranged from as low as 68.7 percent of total employment in the North Central District and 69.1 percent in the Northeast District to as high as 87.1 percent of total employment in the St. Louis District.
By Missouri Regional Planning Commission (RPCs) Areas
Table 8 shows that wage and salary employment increased from 1992-2002 by more than 10.1 percent in 15 of the RPC areas. The greatest percentage increase (32.4%) occurred in the three county Boonslick Area, followed by a 30.7 percent increase in the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments Area. Table 9 shows that all 10 counties in the Southwest Area had an increase of wage and salary employment and nine of the 10 had an increase of greater than 20 percent. Two of the counties in that region, Taney and Christian had increases of 75.2 percent and 69.5 percent respectively, far above all other counties in the state. There are four other RPCs which had an increase in wage and salary employment of 20 percent or more. These include the Mid-Missouri RPC (an increase of 24.1 percent), Lake of Ozarks Council of Government (22.9%), Meramec RPC (21.6%) and the Harry Truman Coordinating Council. Table 9 also shows that all but one of the 22 counties in those areas had an increase in wage and salary employment and 11 of the 22 counties in the four areas had an increase of greater than 20 percent.
The smallest increase (3.5%) occurred in the six-county Northeast Missouri RPC. Two of those six counties had a decline in wage and salary employment. The Green Hills RPC had an increase of 7.9 percent with three of the 11 counties having a decline in wage and salary employment.
Although wage and salary employment increased by only 10.8 percent in the East-West Coordinating Council Area, the numerical gain in that RPC area district was 111,420 – just under one-third of the state’s total gain. Other large numerical gains occurred in the Mid-America RPC (Kansas City) with an increase of 59,196 and the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments with a gain of 57,839. Together, those three regions accounted for 64 percent of Missouri’s total 1992-2002 increase in wage and salary employment.
Table 9 also shows that wage and salary employment ranged from as low as 60.3 percent of total employment in the Green Hills RPC, 60.9 percent in the Kaysinger Basin RPC and 61.5 percent of total employment in the South Central Ozarks Council of Governments. At the opposite extreme, wage and salary employment was as high as 87.1 percent of total employment in the East-West Coordinating Council.
| Detailed Tables of Total Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri 1992-2002 | ||
The following links provide detailed tables of Total Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri 1992-2002. They are available in both HTML and Adobe Acrobat(PDF) formats. |
All Missouri Counties |
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| Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri, 1992-2002 - By County with State Totals | HTML | |
| Regional Tables | ||
| UO/E Regions | ||
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Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri, 1992-2002 - By UM Extension Region |
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| Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri, 1992-2002 - By County Within UM Extension Region | HTML | |
| DED Regions | ||
| Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri, 1992-2002 - By DED Region | HTML | |
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Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri, 1992-2002 - By County Within DED Region |
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| MoDOT Regions | ||
| Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri, 1992-2002 - By DOT District | HTML | |
| Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri, 1992-2002 - By County Within DOT District | HTML | |
| RPC Regions | ||
| Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri, 1992-2002 - By RPC | HTML | |
| Wage and Salary Employment in Missouri, 1992-2002 - By County Within RPC | HTML | |
This file last modified Thursday May 07, 2009, 16:03:46
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