Job Ready Workforce and Educational Institutions

Workforce Supports All Aspects of Supply Chain

DIVERSE MANUFACTURING, LOGISTICS, DISTRIBUTION, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND C-SUITE WORKFORCE

6,000+ FIRMS OPERATING WHOLESALE TRADE AND WAREHOUSING

10+ INSTITUTIONS WITH LOGISTICS, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

TRAINING PROVIDERS ENHANCE WORKFORCE SKILLS, PROVIDE FUNDS

Having a robust supply chain goes a long way in making the St. Louis region worthy of consideration for industrial site selection. Just as no supply chain can function well without high quality and accessible modes of transportation as found in the St. Louis region, neither can it without a skilled workforce with the know-how to source, produce, and ship products around the world.

Fortunately, our region boasts more skilled workers employed in manufacturing and supply chain industries than all peer cities in the Midwest – a strength supported by our region’s plentiful logistics and supply chain-based educational opportunities and regional feeder institutions.

The St. Louis region’s talent pool runs notably deep across all aspects of the supply chain, from the shop floor to the research and development lab, to the warehouse, and up through the C-Suite.

Occupational employment chart for St. Louis, MSA review production occupations and transportation/material moving occupations. Includes comparison of St. Louis vs Louisville, Kansas City, and Nashville.

Key Strengths of the St. Louis Regional Workforce

  • The St. Louis region offers a highly skilled and diversified workforce whose core strengths lie in manufacturing, supply chain logistics, and value-added distribution, from the shop floor through the C-Suite. Due to this deep and varied skill base, multiple aspects of any one company’s global supply chain can be better managed and growth opportunities can be generated more effectively from the St. Louis region than any other region in the Country.
  • Our well-educated and experienced workforce provides maximum value to warehousing, distribution, and e-commerce companies, all at a competitive price.
  • This experienced labor pool provides high levels of productivity, exceptional work quality, and safe practices.
  • There are currently more than 6,000 firms operating wholesale trade, transportation, and warehousing operations in the St. Louis region.
  • The region’s robust corporate sector in the distribution industry includes such companies as Amazon, Procter & Gamble, World Wide Technologies, Walgreens, Hershey, Whirlpool, and Unilever, among others.
  • Due to our industrial heritage, rich talent pipeline, and continuous innovation, our workforce is highly effective at implementing high-tech manufacturing processes and value-added goods production, making complicated work requiring engineering and technical proficiency in robotics, computing, electronics, laboratory applications, and automation seamless and straightforward.
Occupational Employment & Wage EstimatesAnnual Mean Wage St. Louis MSA# Workers St. Louis MSA
All Occupations$60,5001,399,953
All Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$46,100118,824
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$107,4001,339
Logisticians$87,4002,150
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation & Material Moving Workers$63,5004,810
Laborers, Freight Stock, and Material Movers$40,80024,673
All Production Occupations$48,90081,000
First Line Supervisor, Production and Operating Worker$72,0006,031
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,20011,927
CNC Machine Tool Programmers (Metal and Plastic)$67,700322
CNC Machine Tool Operators (Metal and Plastic)$48,8001,941
Machinists$56,9002,786
Helpers/Production Workers$39,2001,623

Source: JobsEQ® Occupation Snapshot

Education

One principle indicator of long-term success within an area is ensuring a robust network of skilled future workers. The St. Louis region has over 55 colleges and universities including 16 discrete degree and certificate opportunities in the manufacturing and transportation/logistics fields offered by six regional universities, along with industry training programs available at several other area colleges.

Training Incentives & Funding

While boasting a well-educated workforce, the opportunities to learn in an ever-changing, fast-paced world never cease. The St. Louis area has a robust training infrastructure geared toward improving skills of existing manufacturing/distribution workers, with quick and effective adaptation of non-industry workers interested in entering new fields.

Some of the most successful training and education programs for manufacturing careers in the St. Louis region include the following:

  • Missouri Works Training

    MWT provides funding assistance for Missouri companies in need of worker skills upgrade due to new technologies, new products or processes, relocation, expansion, or competition driving quality or productivity.

  • Area Career Centers

    These one-stop resources located throughout the St. Louis region provide training and employment services including employment pre-screening, recruitment services, short-term training, on the job training, apprenticeships, and specialized training programs.

  • Employee Investment Training Program (ETIP)

    This Illinois program provides training funds to qualified businesses as part of an Economic Development Incentive Project.

  • The U.S. Transportation Command

    Headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, The U.S. Transportation Command is the center of all Supply Chain and transportation planning for the U.S. Military around the world, providing a large group of potential logistics professionals for recruitment once they enter the civilian workforce.

Training Providers & Centers of Excellence

The St. Louis area also is rich in local community colleges, technical schools, and centers of excellence that are well equipped to partner with private industry. Major players include:

  • Center for Workforce Innovation and Labor at St. Louis Community College

    This facility on the STLCC Florissant Valley campus serves more than 500 students annually through innovative workforce programs. CWI is home to:

    • Six aerospace labs
    • Three Technical Training Labs (Programmable Logic Controllers, Industrial Maintenance Training, and Green Technologies and Sustainable Construction)
    • A large equipment lab
    • Three all-purpose classrooms
    • A computer lab, and more

  • Emerson Center for Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing at St. Louis Community College

    Also located at STLCC Florissant Valley, the Emerson Center’s focus is to provide associates degrees, certificate programs, and customized training programs to the local manufacturing and engineering workforce.

  • Southwestern Illinois College

    Students enjoy industrial training in state-of-the-art labs in the Illinois cities of Granite City, Belleville, and East St. Louis and also have access to SWIC’s program offerings in the logistics sector. Core programs include:

  • East Central College Missouri Manufacturing Wins Program

    Through Mo Manufacturing Wins, students can earn certificates recognized and endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers. Skill certificates available include:

    • Production
    • Industrial Maintenance
    • Welding
    • Machining
    • Transportation and Logistics

  • Lewis & Clark Community College

    With campuses in Edwardsville, East Alton and Godfrey, IL, Lewis & Clark Community College offers adult education classes, community and continuing education programs, online classes, and workforce training. Students can obtain degrees and certificates in base fields such as:

    • Industrial Technology
    • Logistics Management
    • Truck Driver Training
    • Construction Labor
    • Welding Technology

  • Ranken Technical College

    Students at Ranken receive comprehensive instruction and hands-on experience while using up-to-date technology. Degree programs include:

    • Fabrication and Welding Technology
    • Industrial Technology
    • Precision Machining Technology
    • Advanced Manufacturing Technology
    • Facilities Technology