Demographics
Bill Beall Co., Inc. believes... There is a uniqueness about the strategic location of Springfield, Missouri, and the Ozarks. A friendly workforce welcomes diversified business and industry. The resulting business climate has been one of stability offering insulation from the dramatic economic swings experienced by other parts of the country.
Springfield has strong, locally-owned financial institutions with conservative histories and abundant funds to invest in the local community.
Continued growth is further underlined by the expansion of area tourism and the focus on Springfield as a medical center for the four-state area.
Quick Facts
- The Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is comprised of Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk & Dallas counties and has a population of over 390,000 people.
- Springfield's area of economic influence reaches 27 counties and 936,502 people.
- The Springfield metro workforce has grown more than 16% in the past 10 years and in 2004 accounted for more than one-third of Missouri's total job growth.
- The area unemployment rate has been below 4.5% for over ten years.
- The metro area's average annual growth rate is 2.2%.
- Springfield-Branson Regional Airport connects to 11 different cities with over 36 daily flights.
- Annual retail sales in Springfield have been over $3 billion and nearly $6 billion for the metropolitan area.
- Springfield's economic output (gross metro product) doubled in the past decade--fastest growing in MO, top 50 in the US.
- Approximately 92% of all area employers have fewer than 25 employees.
- The health care industry employs 25,000 people (15% of the total workforce) with an economic impact of over $3 billion.
- The manufacturing sector's economic impact is over $3 billion annually and the sector employs over 20,000 people.
- The cost of living in Springfield stays consistently 10% below the national average.
- 2.2 million visitors stay over night in Springfield.
Well-known companies operating in Springfield include: Kraft Foods, 3M, Bass Pro Shops, MCI Worldcom, JP Morgan Chase, Northrop Grumman Interconnect Technologies, and Springfield Remanufacturing.
Source: www.business4springfield.com
