The growing medical centers in Springfield have established relatively fast growth in several medical related areas but the largest number of new employees will not likely be in highly trained areas. All projections need to be viewed with caution. There has been some evidence of a slowdown in employment growth in the last year in Missouri. There remained growth in employment but a slow rate of growth. How slow is not yet clear but statewide a growth of about one- percent seems to be the case.
Services appear to be most affected by the slower rate of growth.
Slower growth could be the result of a slower increase in demand for goods and services. This does not appear to be the case. Rather it appears that tight labor markets have made it more difficult to hire additional workers. With an already high labor participation rate and unusually low unemployment rate, it does not appear likely that employment will continue to rise as substantially in the next several years as in the past. The record expansion in the United States has tapped sources of continued stimulus for the last several years, however, the ability to continue employment growth at the past pace seems unlikely.