Jefferson/Franklin Consortium
Through its local Missouri Job Centers, Jefferson/Franklin Consortium offers employment and career training services for youth, adults and workers dislocated from their employment due to plant closings or workforce reductions.
The Jefferson/Franklin Consortium, through its Missouri Job Centers, provides comprehensive employment and training services for youth, adults, and workers displaced by job losses. The centers offer resources like computers and access to updated job listings on jobs.mo.gov, alongside workshops for resume writing, interviewing, and job application skills. They also provide labor market insights, educational and on-the-job training, and specialized services for veterans.
For employers, the consortium features SMART Business Service Centers equipped with interviewing and training facilities, employer-specific training programs, and support for on-the-job training and tax incentives. These services streamline the hiring and training processes, facilitating effective workforce development in the Jefferson/Franklin region.
Jefferson/Franklin Labor Market Overview
The Jefferson/Franklin Workforce Development Area (WDA) includes Jefferson and Franklin counties, with per capita personal income slightly below Missouri’s state average of $57,818. Both counties had incomes above $50,000 in 2022, and poverty rates for working-age individuals were below the state average of 12.3%. Barriers to employment, such as disabilities and limited English proficiency, were also lower than state levels. However, Jefferson County had a slightly higher percentage of residents without a high school diploma at 10.9%, compared to Franklin County’s 10.5%. Unemployment in the region peaked during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic but has since declined, reaching 2.3% in Franklin and 2.4% in Jefferson by 2022, both below Missouri’s 2.5% unemployment rate.
Key industries in the region include machinery manufacturing, plastics, rubber products, and primary metal manufacturing, all of which have a high concentration compared to the national average. The workforce saw modest employment growth of 0.5% from 2017 to 2022, with significant gains in utilities, wholesale trade, and educational services. The highest job demand is in healthcare, retail, food services, and transportation, with occupations such as registered nurses, truck drivers, and retail supervisors among the most sought-after. Employers report that hiring remains challenging, with 62% of job openings taking over 30 days to fill. A shortage of skilled workers and applicants with necessary experience has been cited as the top barrier to expansion.
Survey data from employers shows that attracting and retaining talent is their biggest challenge, with many increasing wages and offering flexible work schedules to compete for employees. Although remote work surged during the pandemic, it has declined, with most employers expecting it to remain stable. Workforce training and skill development remain critical, as 91% of businesses rely on on-the-job training to close skill gaps. The region’s future job growth is expected in healthcare, technology, and professional services, with occupations like software developers, nurse practitioners, and general managers seeing strong long-term demand.
Local Plan
Explore our comprehensive strategy to drive workforce development and economic growth in the Jefferson/Franklin Region.