With a rich history deeply rooted in aviation innovation and production, the bi-state St. Louis region is home to five airports that are driving the region’s economy and global aerospace manufacturing and service companies, making it one of the top Aerospace and Aviation Ecosystems in the nation.
This vibrant sector of the region’s economy is a magnet for continued investments, with an estimated $5 billion being invested in recently completed projects and those to be delivered over the next five to 10 years by the airports and their major tenants. Those investments will create additional job opportunities in our region as demand grows for construction workers to deliver the new facilities; skilled tradesmen to help build, maintain and repair aircraft and their components; airport operations personnel; and the many positions in other industries impacted by the ripple effects of this growth.
Noteworthy Metrics
- 62 aerospace manufacturing businesses* that combined account for more than 18,330 employees. (NAICS 3364: Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing)
- Aerospace manufacturing employees make an average annual salary of $133,456. This is nearly 2x higher than the average wage across all industries in the region ($67,353).
- Regional employment in aerospace manufacturing grew by approximately 1,200 jobs&emdash;or 7%&emdash;in the last five years. This growth rate outpaced the national growth rate of only 4.1% during the same time period.
- Boeing Aerospace Company, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and West Star Aviation are expanding in the region, adding almost 1,000 new jobs.
* Number of businesses from Database USA (2025). All other data from JobsEQ®, Q1 2025
Collaborating for Growth
The unique collaboration that exists between the airports in the region and the aerospace companies operating here will be instrumental in building upon the existing workforce to ensure the region has the available talent pool required for continued growth.
The St. Louis Regional Freightway has convened these stakeholders, along with representatives of many educational institutions and workforce development groups in the bi-state area, to launch a new taskforce that will support the expansion of the talent pipeline.
The purpose of the St. Louis Regional Aerospace Manufacturing and Aviation Taskforce is to provide a platform for bi-state leaders to share industry related information, programs and events that could help connect, promote and elevate the continued growth of the aerospace manufacturing and service and aviation industries.
These industry leaders are working collectively to streamline the process, so others in the aerospace and aviation industry can easily expand or locate in the bi-state St. Louis region and so individuals interested in becoming part of this robust ecosystem can navigate their way into a lifetime career.
L to R: Dr. Jennifer Kephart, Superintendent of School District of Washington, Missouri; John Bales, Director of Spirit of St. Louis Airport; Darren James, Director of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport; Yolandea Wood, OBAP St. Louis ACE Academy and Hugh J. White Tuskegee Airmen Chapter STL; Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport; Daniel Adams, Director of St. Louis Regional Airport; Sandra Shore, Director of St. Louis Downtown Airport; Mary Lamie, St. Louis Regional Freightway
Take Flight Forum
Each year, The Freightway hosts the Take Flight Forum, bringing together regional airport directors and aviation leaders to highlight the economic impact the industry delivers to the bi-state area, and explore the new innovations and investments that are strengthening our position in the aerospace sector.
2025 Forum Program:
The St. Louis Regional Freightway brought together industry leaders and airport directors for the 2025 Take Flight Forum for an insightful conversation on the strength and growth of the region’s aerospace and aviation ecosystems, including updates on new developments and upcoming projects at each airport. This was followed by an in-depth discussion with Dr. Jennifer Kephart (School District of Washington, Missouri) and Yolandea Wood (OBAP St. Louis ACE Academy; Hugh J. White Tuskegee Airmen Chapter STL) into the programs introducing middle and high school students to aviation and aerospace careers.
Watch the 2025 Take Flight Forum below:
2024 Forum:
2023 Forum:
2022 Forum:
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At the end of the day, with all the talent and the workforce here in the local area, I think we can consider St. Louis to be an aviation mecca. The access to talent, the relationships, it all just plays a part.