Springfield, Missouri The Official Economic Development Site for the Springfield Metro Region

Executive Summary

Download the Demographic & Statistical Data Profile PDF (1.4mb)

Springfield Metro Area

• The Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is comprised of Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties and has a population of over 444,000 people.
• Springfield's area of economic influence reaches 27 counties and 1,027,361 people.
• Since 2000, the metro area's average annual growth rate has been 3.0%.

Workforce

• The Springfield metro workforce has grown more than 18% in the past 10 years and in 2004 accounted for more than one-third of Missouri's total job growth. 
• Prior to the current economic downturn, the area's unemployment rate has been below 4.5% for over ten years. 
• In the Springfield metro area, 95% of businesses have fewer than 50 employees.

Industry

• The health care industry employs 30,000 people (17% of the total workforce) with a $4.5 billion dollar annual economic impact. 
• Springfield's economic output (gross metro product) doubled in the past decade--fastest growing in MO, top 50 in the US. 
• The manufacturing sector creates an $18.6 billion economic impact each year and provides well-paying jobs for over 17,000 people in the area.

Retail

• Annual retail sales for the City of Springfield have been over $4 billion and almost $6 billion for the Springfield metropolitan area.  
• The cost of living in Springfield stays consistently 10% below the national average. 
• 2.2 million visitors stay overnight in Springfield.

Transportation

• Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) connects to 9 different cities with more than 24 daily flights.
• In 2005, SGF was the 4th fastest growing airport in the U.S. and the new terminal building was completed in 2009. 
• Located in the center of the country, Springfield is a transportation hub with numerous trucking terminals. Logistics provides an annual economic impact of $14.3 billion to the metro area.

Downtown Redevelopment

• The renaissance in downtown Springfield has transformed this historic district into the heart of the Springfield region. Fine dining, trendy retail, a lively art scene, entertainment venues and an explosion of loft apartments exist at every turn.
• More than $400 million of private and public money has gone into historic renovations, high-tech research facilities, an 8,000 seat baseball stadium--home to the AA Springfield Cardinals, convention center, recreational ice rink and plenty of park space.

Well-Known Companies

Well-known companies with large operations in Springfield include the following: 

• Kraft Foods
• 3M
• Bass Pro Shops (headquarters)
• O'Reilly Auto Parts (headquarters)
• JP Morgan Chase
• T-Mobile
• BKD, LLP (headquarters)
• Jack Henry & Associates (headquarters)
• Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway