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The year 2004 was a very productive one for both the St. Louis region and the RCGA. The RCGA, through its members, generated very strong job growth throughout the region; played a major role in the passage of key economic development legislation in Springfield, Ill., Jefferson City, and in Washington, D.C.; and strengthened the region’s physical infrastructure capacity.
The St. Louis region added 39,500 net new jobs in 2004, ranking it as a national leader in employment growth. For the last six straight months, the St. Louis region has posted employment growth of over 2.5 percent on a year-over-year basis, for several months growing at nearly double the national rate. This is the fastest rate of year-over-year employment growth in the region since December 1994.
Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data available,
Las Vegas is the only major metro area that has added jobs at a faster rate than St. Louis.
St. Louis’ #2 job growth of major metro areas has outpaced Seattle’s 2.2 percent; Atlanta’s 1.0 percent; San Francisco’s 0.9 percent;
Los Angeles’ 0.7 percent; and Chicago’s
0.4 percent. Closer to home, the State of Missouri employment grew by 1.4 percent over a year ago, and Illinois statewide
employment is up 0.2 percent. Kansas City’s year-over-year employment increased just
0.4 percent over last year.
The region’s growth continues to be driven by the professional and business services sector. This sector employed 194,500 people, increasing by an astonishing 9.2 percent over 2003. Retail trade employment is up 6.1 percent over a year ago. The increase in business services employment suggests that local businesses are much more comfortable with the economic environment.
A host of other useful data points are found in this roster edition of Who’s Who, What’s What in St. Louis. In this special issue of
St. Louis Commerce Magazine, you’ll find vital information designed in the same format as last year.
Like last year, the Who’s Who sections include the movers and shakers in business and in economic development in the region. From RCGA Board, Leadership Circle members, and staff, to the Public Policy Council and Forward Metro St. Louis; arts, business and cultural leaders, to the Technology Gateway Council–you’ll find a listing of the key players.
The What’s What in St. Louis section offers a fascinating profile of the region: regional facts; rankings; counties and municipalities; demographics; education; work force; businesses; real estate; transportation; utilities; quality of life and recreation. We’ve also included an overview of the region’s legislative priorities for 2005, along with a directory of Missouri and Illinois legislators and Congressional leaders.
This issue also includes an interesting piece on how the RCGA and its local and statewide economic development partners market the St. Louis region. Another article focuses on the region’s proactive, collaborative public policy efforts.
The St. Louis metro area has a very positive, compelling story to tell. This issue of Commerce is filled with interesting facts and figures about the region. We also urge you to visit our web site at www.stlrcga.org.
Then there is the RCGA’s “white pages” membership roster, from accountants to the zoo, plus the alphabetical “yellow pages” listings.
Spend some time with Who’s Who, What’s What in St. Louis; we hope you will find it to be a very useful reference tool throughout this new year.
RICHARD C.D. FLEMING
President and Chief Executive Officer
St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association |
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