This article originally comes from Air Freight News on May 22, 2025
The St. Louis region has more than 48,000 skilled workers in advanced manufacturing and the region ranks among the top 20 metros for aerospace employment with nearly four times more aerospace manufacturing employees than other similar-sized markets. The bi-state region also ranks first in the nation for on-the-job training programs and third for completed internships helping to contribute to workforce growth to support the number of advanced manufacturing firms in the area. Among the major employers calling the St. Louis region home are General Motors, Boeing, West Star Aviation, True Manufacturing, Evertrak, Emerson, Oasis Berco, Lear, The Greenbrier Companies, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., ICL Group and Scott Air Force Base, with several of those recently or currently expanding their operations.
Boeing, which already has more than 16,000 employees in the bi-state region, is planning a multi-billion expansion to add a one million square-foot advanced aerospace manufacturing facility by St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The company also invested $200 million in a new production facility for its MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueling aircraft at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois. An estimated 500 new jobs will be created by the combined investments, and more jobs could follow. The U.S. Air Force announced in March that Boeing has been awarded a contract to design, build and deliver its next-generation fighter aircraft. Known as the F-47, the aircraft contract award further positions the aerospace giant for future growth. While the total contract amount has not been disclosed, the St. Louis Business Journal reports it initially is expected to be worth about $20 billion but could total hundreds of billions of dollars over the next several decades.
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