Business Employment Dynamics in Missouri — First Quarter 2025

From December 2024 to March 2025, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments in Missouri were 132,889, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 131,147, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment gain of 1,742 jobs in the private sector during the first quarter of 2025 (See table 1.) During the previous quarter, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 10,710. (See chart 1.)

Line chart of private sector gross job gains and gross job losses in Missouri, March 2020-2025. An accessible version is available in View Chart Data link below the chart.

View Chart Data

Chart 1. Private-sector gross job gains and losses in Missouri, March 2020–March 2025, seasonally adjusted
Period	Gross job gains	Gross job losses
Mar 2020	123,526	142,742
Jun 2020	108,019	327,056
Sep 2020	189,044	125,018
Dec 2020	161,393	120,121
Mar 2021	147,772	121,197
Jun 2021	141,977	142,440
Sep 2021	156,228	140,235
Dec 2021	173,828	131,168
Mar 2022	154,321	130,840
Jun 2022	151,299	142,420
Sep 2022	165,094	153,337
Dec 2022	146,156	141,593
Mar 2023	159,674	125,894
Jun 2023	144,565	146,449
Sep 2023	138,296	144,092
Dec 2023	146,559	138,722
Mar 2024	145,228	133,952
Jun 2024	139,621	143,905
Sep 2024	136,883	142,557
Dec 2024	142,578	131,868
Mar 2025	132,889	131,147

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all private businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private-sector establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See the Business Employment Dynamics Technical Note.)

Gross job gains

In the first quarter of 2025, gross job gains represented 5.4 percent of private-sector employment in Missouri; nationally, gross job gains accounted for 5.6 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 2.) Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment due to expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. In Missouri, gross job gains at expanding establishments totaled 106,179 in the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of 6,309 jobs compared to the previous quarter. Opening establishments accounted for 26,710 jobs gained in the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of 3,380 jobs from the previous quarter.

View Chart Data

Chart 2. Private-sector gross job gains as a percent of employment, United States and Missouri, March 2020–March 2025, seasonally adjusted
Period	United States	Missouri
Mar 2020	5.5	5.2
Jun 2020	4.8	4.7
Sep 2020	9.4	8.5
Dec 2020	7.4	7.1
Mar 2021	7.0	6.3
Jun 2021	6.8	6.1
Sep 2021	7.3	6.7
Dec 2021	7.7	7.3
Mar 2022	6.7	6.5
Jun 2022	6.5	6.2
Sep 2022	6.9	6.8
Dec 2022	6.3	6.0
Mar 2023	6.3	6.5
Jun 2023	6.2	5.8
Sep 2023	5.9	5.6
Dec 2023	6.0	6.0
Mar 2024	5.9	5.9
Jun 2024	5.8	5.6
Sep 2024	5.8	5.6
Dec 2024	5.9	5.7
Mar 2025	5.6	5.4

Gross job losses

In the first quarter of 2025, gross job losses represented 5.2 percent of private-sector employment in Missouri; nationally, gross job losses accounted for 5.4 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 3.) Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. In Missouri, contracting establishments lost 105,035 jobs in the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of 317 jobs from the prior quarter. Closing establishments lost 26,112 jobs, a decrease of 404 jobs from the previous quarter.

View Chart Data

Chart 3. Private-sector gross job losses as a percent of employment, United States and Missouri, March 2019–March 2024, seasonally adjusted
Period	United States	Missouri
Mar. 2019	5.6	5.3
Jun. 2019	5.9	5.7
Sep. 2019	5.8	5.7
Dec. 2019	5.5	5.3
Mar. 2020	6.3	6.0
Jun. 2020	16.8	14.1
Sep. 2020	5.9	5.6
Dec. 2020	5.7	5.3
Mar. 2021	5.5	5.3
Jun. 2021	5.9	6.1
Sep. 2021	6.1	6.1
Dec. 2021	5.4	5.5
Mar. 2022	5.5	5.5
Jun. 2022	6.2	5.9
Sep. 2022	5.9	6.3
Dec. 2022	5.9	5.8
Mar. 2023	5.5	5.1
Jun. 2023	5.9	5.9
Sep. 2023	6.0	5.8
Dec. 2023	5.7	5.6
Mar. 2024	5.4	5.3

Industries

Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 4 of the 11 published industry sectors in Missouri in the first quarter of 2025. Construction had the largest over-the-quarter net job increase, with a gain of 3,148 jobs. This was the result of 13,251 gross job gains and 10,103 gross job losses. The retail trade industry had a net gain of 2,943, followed by the education and health services sector with a net gain of 2,845. Transportation and warehousing had a net loss of 2,317 jobs, the largest loss of any sector in the state. Missouri’s professional and business services industry sector had a net loss of 1,954.

Revisions to Business Employment Dynamics (BED) Data

Data in this release contain annual revisions in accordance with standard procedures. These revisions include the previous four quarters of not seasonally adjusted data and five years of seasonally adjusted data.

Federal Government Shutdown

Publication of first quarter 2025 data was delayed by more than 6 weeks because of a lapse in federal appropriations. Collection of first quarter Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data – which Business Employment Dynamics data is based upon – had been completed in accordance with our normal schedule prior to the federal government shutdown.

For more information

The BED data series include gross job gains and gross job losses by industry subsector, for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as gross job gains and gross job losses at the firm level by employer size class. BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. Additional information is available online at the Business Employment Dynamics homepage and the Business Employment Dynamics Summary.

The Business Employment Dynamics for Second Quarter 2025 are scheduled to be released on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).

Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records.

More information on formal definitions of the data used in this release, along with coverage, concepts, and methodology, can be found in the Business Employment Dynamics Technical Note.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Private-sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Missouri, seasonally adjusted
Category	Gross job gains and losses (3 months ended)					Gross job gains and losses as a percent of employment (3 months ended)
Category	Mar. 2024	June 2024	Sept. 2024	Dec. 2024	Mar. 2025	Mar. 2024	June 2024	Sept. 2024	Dec. 2024	Mar. 2025
Total private (1)
Gross job gains	145,228	139,621	136,883	142,578	132,889	5.9	5.6	5.6	5.7	5.4
At expanding establishments	116,296	111,671	107,890	112,488	106,179	4.7	4.5	4.4	4.5	4.3
At opening establishments	28,932	27,950	28,993	30,090	26,710	1.2	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.1
Gross job losses	133,952	143,905	142,557	131,868	131,147	5.4	5.8	5.8	5.3	5.2
At contracting establishments	105,792	115,930	116,111	105,352	105,035	4.3	4.7	4.7	4.2	4.2
At closing establishments	28,160	27,975	26,446	26,516	26,112	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.0
Net employment change (2)	11,276	-4,284	-5,674	10,710	1,742	0.5	-0.2	-0.2	0.4	0.2
Construction
Gross job gains	13,309	10,339	10,783	12,495	13,251	8.9	6.9	7.4	8.5	8.8
At expanding establishments	11,051	8,499	8,635	9,957	10,527	7.4	5.7	5.9	6.8	7.0
At opening establishments	2,258	1,840	2,148	2,538	2,724	1.5	1.2	1.5	1.7	1.8
Gross job losses	9,156	12,118	11,316	10,953	10,103	6.2	8.2	7.8	7.5	6.7
At contracting establishments	7,266	9,759	9,134	8,785	8,238	4.9	6.6	6.3	6.0	5.5
At closing establishments	1,890	2,359	2,182	2,168	1,865	1.3	1.6	1.5	1.5	1.2
Net employment change (2)	4,153	-1,779	-533	1,542	3,148	2.7	-1.3	-0.4	1.0	2.1
Manufacturing
Gross job gains	7,697	7,896	7,021	7,716	7,207	2.7	2.7	2.5	2.7	2.6
At expanding establishments	6,586	7,284	6,300	6,812	6,418	2.3	2.5	2.2	2.4	2.3
At opening establishments	1,111	612	721	904	789	0.4	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3
Gross job losses	8,367	8,320	8,211	8,331	7,994	2.9	2.9	2.9	3.0	2.8
At contracting establishments	7,554	6,935	7,333	7,542	7,289	2.6	2.4	2.6	2.7	2.6
At closing establishments	813	1,385	878	789	705	0.3	0.5	0.3	0.3	0.2
Net employment change (2)	-670	-424	-1,190	-615	-787	-0.2	-0.2	-0.4	-0.3	-0.2
Wholesale trade
Gross job gains	5,275	5,215	4,474	5,176	4,686	4.1	4.1	3.5	4.0	3.7
At expanding establishments	4,366	4,465	3,717	4,264	3,713	3.4	3.5	2.9	3.3	2.9
At opening establishments	909	750	757	912	973	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.8
Gross job losses	5,529	4,891	5,303	4,974	6,018	4.3	3.8	4.1	3.9	4.8
At contracting establishments	4,519	4,098	4,241	4,058	4,915	3.5	3.2	3.3	3.2	3.9
At closing establishments	1,010	793	1,062	916	1,103	0.8	0.6	0.8	0.7	0.9
Net employment change (2)	-254	324	-829	202	-1,332	-0.2	0.3	-0.6	0.1	-1.1
Retail trade
Gross job gains	15,733	15,192	14,300	14,272	16,544	5.1	4.9	4.6	4.7	5.4
At expanding establishments	13,888	13,304	12,457	12,494	14,791	4.5	4.3	4.0	4.1	4.8
At opening establishments	1,845	1,888	1,843	1,778	1,753	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6
Gross job losses	13,730	17,154	16,690	16,073	13,601	4.4	5.5	5.4	5.2	4.5
At contracting establishments	11,815	15,169	15,091	13,822	11,895	3.8	4.9	4.9	4.5	3.9
At closing establishments	1,915	1,985	1,599	2,251	1,706	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.7	0.6
Net employment change (2)	2,003	-1,962	-2,390	-1,801	2,943	0.7	-0.6	-0.8	-0.5	0.9
Transportation and warehousing
Gross job gains	6,048	5,958	6,006	7,340	5,494	5.5	5.5	5.5	6.6	5.0
At expanding establishments	4,826	5,067	5,356	6,407	4,247	4.4	4.7	4.9	5.8	3.9
At opening establishments	1,222	891	650	933	1,247	1.1	0.8	0.6	0.8	1.1
Gross job losses	8,029	5,664	5,861	5,010	7,811	7.3	5.2	5.4	4.6	7.2
At contracting establishments	7,030	4,495	4,928	4,275	6,433	6.4	4.1	4.5	3.9	5.9
At closing establishments	999	1,169	933	735	1,378	0.9	1.1	0.9	0.7	1.3
Net employment change (2)	-1,981	294	145	2,330	-2,317	-1.8	0.3	0.1	2.0	-2.2
Information
Gross job gains	1,801	1,642	2,122	2,144	1,741	3.8	3.5	4.6	4.6	3.8
At expanding establishments	1,252	1,354	1,703	1,458	1,193	2.6	2.9	3.7	3.1	2.6
At opening establishments	549	288	419	686	548	1.2	0.6	0.9	1.5	1.2
Gross job losses	2,144	2,222	2,192	2,304	2,186	4.5	4.7	4.7	4.9	4.7
At contracting establishments	1,564	1,752	1,643	1,642	1,636	3.3	3.7	3.5	3.5	3.5
At closing establishments	580	470	549	662	550	1.2	1.0	1.2	1.4	1.2
Net employment change (2)	-343	-580	-70	-160	-445	-0.7	-1.2	-0.1	-0.3	-0.9
Financial activities
Gross job gains	7,362	7,447	7,295	7,276	7,413	4.2	4.3	4.2	4.3	4.3
At expanding establishments	5,796	6,082	5,730	5,453	5,804	3.3	3.5	3.3	3.2	3.4
At opening establishments	1,566	1,365	1,565	1,823	1,609	0.9	0.8	0.9	1.1	0.9
Gross job losses	7,598	7,644	8,013	7,517	7,079	4.4	4.5	4.6	4.4	4.1
At contracting establishments	5,889	6,139	6,459	6,001	5,473	3.4	3.6	3.7	3.5	3.2
At closing establishments	1,709	1,505	1,554	1,516	1,606	1.0	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9
Net employment change (2)	-236	-197	-718	-241	334	-0.2	-0.2	-0.4	-0.1	0.2
Professional and business services
Gross job gains	23,364	22,705	24,212	21,950	20,650	6.2	6.1	6.5	5.9	5.6
At expanding establishments	18,055	17,818	19,373	16,772	16,193	4.8	4.8	5.2	4.5	4.4
At opening establishments	5,309	4,887	4,839	5,178	4,457	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.2
Gross job losses	24,806	25,244	23,895	24,778	22,604	6.6	6.8	6.4	6.7	6.1
At contracting establishments	19,529	20,526	19,070	19,615	17,393	5.2	5.5	5.1	5.3	4.7
At closing establishments	5,277	4,718	4,825	5,163	5,211	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.4
Net employment change (2)	-1,442	-2,539	317	-2,828	-1,954	-0.4	-0.7	0.1	-0.8	-0.5
Education and health services
Gross job gains	28,335	28,624	27,715	26,554	22,695	5.9	5.9	5.6	5.3	4.5
At expanding establishments	20,679	19,596	17,781	17,913	16,128	4.3	4.0	3.6	3.6	3.2
At opening establishments	7,656	9,028	9,934	8,641	6,567	1.6	1.9	2.0	1.7	1.3
Gross job losses	23,820	23,442	22,701	20,267	19,850	4.9	4.8	4.7	4.1	3.9
At contracting establishments	15,080	15,656	15,558	13,014	13,220	3.1	3.2	3.2	2.6	2.6
At closing establishments	8,740	7,786	7,143	7,253	6,630	1.8	1.6	1.5	1.5	1.3
Net employment change (2)	4,515	5,182	5,014	6,287	2,845	1.0	1.1	0.9	1.2	0.6
Leisure and hospitality
Gross job gains	28,211	26,969	25,826	30,121	25,878	8.9	8.5	8.3	9.7	8.3
At expanding establishments	23,354	22,099	21,090	25,063	21,292	7.4	7.0	6.8	8.1	6.8
At opening establishments	4,857	4,870	4,736	5,058	4,586	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.6	1.5
Gross job losses	23,582	29,724	30,863	24,563	26,541	7.5	9.4	10.0	7.9	8.4
At contracting establishments	19,878	25,518	26,666	20,887	22,751	6.3	8.1	8.6	6.7	7.2
At closing establishments	3,704	4,206	4,197	3,676	3,790	1.2	1.3	1.4	1.2	1.2
Net employment change (2)	4,629	-2,755	-5,037	5,558	-663	1.4	-0.9	-1.7	1.8	-0.1
Other services (3)
Gross job gains	6,043	5,869	5,205	5,165	5,317	7.9	7.6	6.8	6.7	6.9
At expanding establishments	4,681	4,681	4,070	3,939	4,183	6.1	6.1	5.3	5.1	5.4
At opening establishments	1,362	1,188	1,135	1,226	1,134	1.8	1.5	1.5	1.6	1.5
Gross job losses	5,258	5,334	5,618	5,273	5,379	6.9	7.0	7.3	6.9	7.0
At contracting establishments	4,003	4,050	4,422	4,129	4,151	5.3	5.3	5.7	5.4	5.4
At closing establishments	1,255	1,284	1,196	1,144	1,228	1.6	1.7	1.6	1.5	1.6
Net employment change (2)	785	535	-413	-108	-62	1.0	0.6	-0.5	-0.2	-0.1
(1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately. (2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. See the Technical Note for further information. (3) Except public administration.

Table 2. Private-sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted
Category	Gross job gains as a percent of employment (3 months ended)					Gross job losses as a percent of employment (3 months ended)
Category	Mar. 2024	June 2024	Sept. 2024	Dec. 2024	Mar. 2025	Mar. 2024	June 2024	Sept. 2024	Dec. 2024	Mar. 2025
United States(1)	5.9	5.8	5.8	5.9	5.6	5.5	5.9	5.8	5.7	5.4
Alabama	5.9	5.6	5.8	5.8	5.3	5.6	5.6	5.9	5.3	5.6
Alaska	10.7	10.2	8.0	10.3	10.0	8.5	9.6	9.6	9.5	8.1
Arizona	8.2	5.6	6.4	6.1	5.8	6.5	6.5	5.7	5.9	5.3
Arkansas	5.6	5.3	5.5	5.8	5.1	5.2	5.7	5.2	4.8	5.1
California	6.0	6.2	6.3	6.7	6.0	5.7	6.9	6.2	6.4	6.2
Colorado	6.4	6.6	6.3	6.2	6.2	7.4	5.8	6.4	6.5	6.8
Connecticut	5.8	5.8	5.5	5.5	5.6	5.2	5.5	5.6	5.5	5.3
Delaware	6.2	5.8	6.8	6.1	5.9	5.0	6.5	6.4	6.3	5.3
District of Columbia	5.1	5.1	4.9	5.0	4.8	5.0	5.4	5.0	5.5	5.8
Florida	5.8	6.1	6.5	6.0	5.8	5.5	5.8	5.7	6.2	5.5
Georgia	6.1	5.9	5.8	6.0	5.5	5.7	5.7	6.1	5.4	5.7
Hawaii	5.6	5.2	5.7	5.3	4.9	5.1	5.6	5.0	5.0	5.0
Idaho	7.9	7.5	7.1	8.2	7.3	8.1	7.2	7.5	6.8	7.3
Illinois	5.2	5.1	4.9	5.1	5.0	4.8	5.1	5.0	5.1	5.0
Indiana	5.3	5.2	5.3	5.5	5.4	5.1	5.5	5.3	5.1	5.2
Iowa	6.2	5.6	5.3	5.6	5.8	5.7	5.8	6.0	5.6	5.5
Kansas	5.9	5.9	5.3	5.9	5.5	5.5	5.6	5.6	5.2	5.4
Kentucky	5.9	5.3	5.4	5.3	5.2	5.1	5.8	5.4	5.5	4.8
Louisiana	6.3	5.8	6.1	6.2	5.6	5.6	6.2	5.8	5.5	5.6
Maine	7.4	7.2	6.2	7.0	7.4	6.3	7.1	7.1	7.1	6.3
Maryland	6.1	7.1	5.9	6.0	5.9	5.5	5.9	6.1	5.9	5.7
Massachusetts	5.3	5.7	5.0	5.3	5.0	5.1	5.6	5.8	5.5	5.1
Michigan	5.5	5.7	5.3	5.4	5.2	5.2	5.4	5.8	5.9	5.3
Minnesota	6.1	5.7	5.1	5.5	5.1	5.2	5.2	5.8	5.1	5.5
Mississippi	6.0	5.7	6.3	6.3	5.7	5.8	6.3	5.7	6.2	6.1
Missouri	5.9	5.6	5.6	5.7	5.4	5.4	5.8	5.8	5.3	5.2
Montana	8.1	7.9	7.2	8.4	8.0	7.6	7.6	8.0	7.8	7.5
Nebraska	5.9	5.5	5.6	5.6	5.2	5.1	5.6	5.6	5.5	5.3
Nevada	6.0	5.8	6.2	6.1	5.4	6.1	5.8	5.9	5.6	5.9
New Hampshire	6.4	6.1	5.6	6.3	6.5	5.8	6.0	6.7	5.9	6.1
New Jersey	5.5	5.9	5.4	6.0	5.6	5.5	5.5	5.8	5.5	5.4
New Mexico	6.4	6.1	6.3	6.1	5.9	6.1	6.5	6.2	5.9	5.8
New York	6.0	5.8	5.7	5.7	6.6	5.0	5.5	5.8	5.5	5.0
North Carolina	5.5	5.6	5.5	6.1	5.4	5.4	5.5	5.8	5.5	5.5
North Dakota	6.9	6.6	6.5	6.5	6.7	6.0	6.6	6.5	6.6	6.5
Ohio	5.5	5.2	5.2	5.4	5.2	4.8	5.3	5.4	5.1	4.9
Oklahoma	5.8	5.7	6.1	6.0	5.5	5.3	6.4	5.5	5.5	5.3
Oregon	6.6	6.0	6.3	6.2	5.8	5.9	6.3	6.6	6.6	6.2
Pennsylvania	5.1	4.9	5.1	5.2	5.0	4.6	5.2	5.0	4.8	4.7
Rhode Island	6.8	6.6	6.2	7.3	6.6	5.7	6.7	6.4	6.3	5.9
South Carolina	6.5	6.1	6.2	6.4	6.1	6.3	6.0	5.9	5.9	5.5
South Dakota	6.4	6.0	5.9	6.7	6.2	5.8	6.2	5.9	5.9	6.5
Tennessee	5.7	5.5	5.6	5.5	5.4	5.0	5.6	5.7	6.2	5.1
Texas	5.5	5.4	5.7	5.8	5.1	5.1	5.3	5.3	5.2	5.1
Utah	6.9	6.5	6.8	6.8	6.6	6.3	6.9	6.2	6.3	6.0
Vermont	7.5	6.7	6.6	6.7	6.9	6.3	7.4	7.1	6.7	6.8
Virginia	5.8	5.6	5.8	5.8	5.6	5.3	5.7	5.7	5.5	5.1
Washington	5.7	5.9	5.8	5.8	5.7	6.2	5.6	5.8	5.7	5.5
West Virginia	7.1	7.0	5.9	6.5	6.4	6.1	6.7	6.6	6.1	5.7
Wisconsin	5.7	5.3	5.1	5.3	5.0	4.9	5.6	5.5	5.2	4.9
Wyoming	8.4	8.2	8.9	8.9	8.1	8.4	8.8	8.5	8.3	8.7
Puerto Rico	5.3	5.5	5.4	4.3	6.3	4.7	4.9	5.0	5.4	5.4
Virgin Islands	6.4	4.9	4.7	5.2	5.4	5.3	5.7	7.5	10.8	7.6
(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. The sum of the states will not necessarily add to the U.S. total because of the independent seasonal adjustment of each state.

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Mountain-Plains Information Office

Business Employment Dynamics in Missouri — First Quarter 2025