Skilled Manufacturing Business Cluster

"The strong work ethic and family values of the residents and a great business community make St. Joseph a great place to operate a nationwide business.”

UNMATCHED MANUFACTURING ROOTS​

Our central location in the middle of the United States, combined with our concentrated and growing skilled manufacturing labor force makes us a top location for any type of manufacturing operation

Our strength in manufacturing will give you an unmatched advantage. Here is a sampling of our labor compared to the national average and growth over the past 5 years: 

  • 27 times more employed in Light Truck and Utility Vehicle Manufacturing
  • 176% Growth in Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet Manufacturing
  • 18 times more employed in Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing

St. Joseph

Top Skilled Manufacturing Employers

St. Joseph

Committed to Helping
St. Joseph Manufacturers Meet Workforce Needs​

Missouri Western University strives to help the Region’s manufacturing sector meet it’s workforce needs. Programs designed to support include Manufacturing Engineering Technology and Construction Engineering Technology.

St. Joseph Manufacturing Day​

Manufacturing Day is a national day set aside to recognize the importance of the manufacturing industry and the diverse, highly-skilled, jobs that are available in our community. 

Held the first Friday in October each year, community organizations and companies come together to lift up the industry and the possible career paths available. 

Click Here to learn more

The St. Joseph metropolitan area, located in both Missouri and Kansas, has 24.74% of its workforce in manufacturing, the 18th-highest rate in the study conducted by SmartAsset.

27 times more employed in Light Truck and Utility Vehicle Manufacturing​

  • 27 times more employed in Light Truck and Utility Vehicle Manufacturing than the national average​
  • 176% Growth in Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet Manufacturing​
  • 18 times more employed in Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing compared to the national average​

Workforce Training Designed for You​

The St. Joseph Workforce Development Alliance works with education partners to coordinate training and educational assets to meet the workforce needs of industry.

Workforce Data

Industry

5Y Growth

Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing

829%

Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing

176%

Current-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing

151%

Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping

149%

Electronic Connector Manufacturing

132%

All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing

109%

Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing

95%

All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing

94%

Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing

91%

Metal Window and Door Manufacturing

77%

Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing

74%

Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing

68%

Adhesive Manufacturing

63%

Industrial Mold Manufacturing

48%

Construction Machinery Manufacturing

43%

Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing

40%

Storage Battery Manufacturing

39%

Wood Window and Door Manufacturing

39%

Conveyor and Conveying Equipment Manufacturing

36%

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing

34%

All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing

31%

Secondary Smelting, Refining, and Alloying of Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum)

30%

Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing

30%

Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing

26%

Machine Tool Manufacturing

26%

Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing

25%

Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing

25%

Industrial Gas Manufacturing

23%

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing

21%

Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing

21%

Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing

15%

Other Electronic Component Manufacturing

14%

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing

14%

Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing

13%

Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing

13%

Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing

10%

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing

9%

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing

8%

Prefabricated Metal Building and Component Manufacturing

7%

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use

7%

Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing

7%

Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing

6%

Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing

5%

Plastics Bottle Manufacturing

5%

Compared to the a USA average region of the same size, St. Joseph has…

28 X more people employed in Light Truck and Utility Vehicle Manufacturing

18 X more people employed in Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing

12 Xmore people employed in Printing Ink Manufacturing

9 X more people employed in Storage Battery Manufacturing

8 X more people employed in Metal Can Manufacturing

7 X more people employed in Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing

7 X more people employed in Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing

6 X more people employed in Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing

6 X more people employed in Steel Wire Drawing

6 X more people employed in Food Product Machinery Manufacturing

5 X more people employed in Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing

5 X more people employed in Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing

5 X more people employed in Current-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing

5 X more people employed in Steel Foundries (except Investment)

4 X more people employed in Automobile Manufacturing

4 X more people employed in Other Engine Equipment Manufacturing

4 X more people employed in All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing

4 X more people employed in Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing

4 X more people employed in Conveyor and Conveying Equipment Manufacturing

4 X more people employed in Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing

4 X more people employed in Stationery Product Manufacturing

3 X more people employed in Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing

3 X more people employed in Secondary Smelting, Refining, and Alloying of Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum)

3 X more people employed in Other Electronic Component Manufacturing

3 X more people employed in Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing

3 X more people employed in Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing

3 X more people employed in Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing

3 X more people employed in Prefabricated Metal Building and Component Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Tire Retreading

2 X more people employed in Packaging Machinery Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Plastics Bottle Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use

2 X more people employed in Other Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Electronic Connector Manufacturing

2 X more people employed in Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing

Industry

Wages

Steel Wire Drawing

 $  45,587 

Steel Foundries (except Investment)

 $  53,151 

Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing

 $  50,603 

Stationery Product Manufacturing

 $  47,541 

Other Electronic Component Manufacturing

 $  52,518 

Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing

 $  50,789 

Prefabricated Metal Building and Component Manufacturing

 $  50,051 

Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing

 $  50,860 

Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing

 $  46,774 

Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing

 $  48,651 

Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing

 $  37,153 

Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing

 $  41,670 

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use

 $  50,811 

Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing

 $  51,742 

Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing

 $  50,219 

Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing

 $  54,492 

Wood Window and Door Manufacturing

 $  42,496 

Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing

 $  41,877 

Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing

 $  51,351 

Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing

 $  50,579 

Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping

 $  37,459 

Labor Availability

This map shows that 17,489 people travel to the St. Joseph area daily for work, proving that a good employer can draw labor from a wide radius. Additionally, this map shows that 15,907 people drive from St. Joseph’s region to work in other locations. This creates a potential workforce as the vast majority of these 15,907 workers will consider working in the St. Joseph area, as more jobs are created.

Transportation Infrastructure

St. Joseph is a crossroads for two major thoroughfares, Interstate 29 and U.S. Highway 36. The city is served by two interstate highways, one proposed interstate, and four U.S. Routes. 

Major Airport

St. Joseph is just 35 minutes from Kansas City International Airport (KCI). KCI is a full service, international airport served by every major U.S. passenger and all-cargo carriers. More than 400 flights from 11 major carriers arrive and depart daily from KCI, and airfares are among the lowest in the nation.

Rail

Rail service provided by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway provides direct access to all parts of North America

St. Joseph Regional Port Authority

The Missouri River, part of the nation’s inland waterway system, is St. Joseph’s gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. Our public river port facility gives area businesses the affordable option of transporting via river barge. The port is located at Missouri River mile 448. The port facility also has a Union Pacific rail spur. It is operated by Transport 360, which is built to accommodate everything from small business to major corporations.

Incentives Options to Suit Your Needs*

Economic Development Programs Related to New Job Creation and Capital Investment:

  • Buchanan County Economic Development Fund

  • St. Joseph Industrial Foundation

  • Chapter 100 Bond Program

  • Missouri State Incentives

  • Tax Increment Financing

  • Chapter 353 Tax Abatement

  • Improvement Districts

  • BUILD Program infrastructure

  • Economic Development riders for Electricity/Water

Redevelopment Related Programs:

  • Tax Increment Financing

  • Chapter 353 Tax Abatement

  • Improvement Districts

*Eligibility criteria apply

Our Recent Momentum: