Workforce Supports All Aspects of Supply Chain
DIVERSE MANUFACTURING, LOGISTICS, DISTRIBUTION, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND C-SUITE WORKFORCE
6,000+ FIRMS OPERATING WHOLESALE TRADE AND WAREHOUSING
10+ INSTITUTIONS WITH LOGISTICS, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
TRAINING PROVIDERS ENHANCE WORKFORCE SKILLS, PROVIDE FUNDS
Having a robust supply chain goes a long way in making the St. Louis region worthy of consideration for industrial site selection. Just as no supply chain can function well without high quality and accessible modes of transportation as found in the St. Louis region, neither can it without a skilled workforce with the know-how to source, produce, and ship products around the world.
Fortunately, our region boasts more skilled workers employed in manufacturing and supply chain industries than all peer cities in the Midwest – a strength supported by our region’s plentiful logistics and supply chain-based educational opportunities and regional feeder institutions.
The St. Louis region’s talent pool runs notably deep across all aspects of the supply chain, from the shop floor to the research and development lab, to the warehouse, and up through the C-Suite.
Source: Chmura JobsEQ®, Q2 2025 Dataset
Key Strengths of the St. Louis Regional Workforce
- The St. Louis region offers a highly skilled and diversified workforce whose core strengths lie in manufacturing, supply chain logistics, and value-added distribution, from the shop floor through the C-Suite. Due to this deep and varied skill base, multiple aspects of any one company’s global supply chain can be better managed and growth opportunities can be generated more effectively from the St. Louis region than any other region in the Country.
- Our well-educated and experienced workforce provides maximum value to warehousing, distribution, and e-commerce companies, all at a competitive price.
- This experienced labor pool provides high levels of productivity, exceptional work quality, and safe practices.
- There are currently more than 6,000 firms operating wholesale trade, transportation, and warehousing operations in the St. Louis region.
- The region’s robust corporate sector in the distribution industry includes such companies as Amazon, Procter & Gamble, World Wide Technologies, Walgreens, Hershey, Whirlpool, and Unilever, among others.
- Due to our industrial heritage, rich talent pipeline, and continuous innovation, our workforce is highly effective at implementing high-tech manufacturing processes and value-added goods production, making complicated work requiring engineering and technical proficiency in robotics, computing, electronics, laboratory applications, and automation seamless and straightforward.
| Occupational Employment & Wage Estimates | Annual Mean Wage St. Louis MSA 2023 | # Workers St. Louis MSA 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| All Occupations | $63,580 | 1,339,700 |
| All Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $46,060 | 113,020 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $110,980 | 1,770 |
| Logisticians | $86,940 | 1,870 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation & Material Moving Workers | $65,480 | 4,460 |
| Laborers, Freight Stock, and Material Movers | $41,710 | 23,470 |
| All Production Occupations | $53,090 | 79,980 |
| First Line Supervisor, Production and Operating Worker | $75,750 | 6,080 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,460 | 10,880 |
| CNC Machine Tool Programmers (Metal and Plastic) | $81,670 | 310 |
| CNC Machine Tool Operators (Metal and Plastic) | $55,530 | 1,800 |
| Machinists | $64,840 | 5,640 |
| Helpers/Production Workers | $42,700 | 1,730 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics – 2023 data, released May 2025
Education
One principle indicator of long-term success within an area is ensuring a robust network of skilled future workers. The St. Louis region has over 55 colleges and universities including 16 discrete degree and certificate opportunities in the manufacturing and transportation/logistics fields offered by five regional universities, along with industry training programs available at several other area colleges.
Training Incentives & Funding
While boasting a well-educated workforce, the opportunities to learn in an ever-changing, fast-paced world never cease. The St. Louis area has a robust training infrastructure geared toward improving skills of existing manufacturing/distribution workers, with quick and effective adaptation of non-industry workers interested in entering new fields.
Some of the most successful training and education programs for manufacturing careers in the St. Louis region include the following:
-
Missouri Works Training
MWT provides funding assistance for Missouri companies in need of worker skills upgrade due to new technologies, new products or processes, relocation, expansion, or competition driving quality or productivity.
-
Area Career Centers
These one-stop resources located throughout the St. Louis region provide training and employment services including employment pre-screening, recruitment services, short-term training, on the job training, apprenticeships, and specialized training programs.
-
Employee Investment Training Program (ETIP)
This Illinois program provides training funds to qualified businesses as part of an Economic Development Incentive Project.
-
The U.S. Transportation Command
Headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, The U.S. Transportation Command is the center of all Supply Chain and transportation planning for the U.S. Military around the world, providing a large group of potential logistics professionals for recruitment once they enter the civilian workforce.
Training Providers & Centers of Excellence
The St. Louis area also is rich in local community colleges, technical schools, and centers of excellence that are well equipped to partner with private industry. Major players include:
-
Southwestern Illinois College
Students enjoy industrial training in state-of-the-art labs in the Illinois cities of Granite City, Belleville, and East St. Louis and also have access to SWIC’s program offerings in the logistics sector. Core programs include:
-
St. Louis Community College School of Advanced Manufacturing, Industrial Occupations and Transportation
STLCC’s trade school programs teach technical skills and provide hands-on training to prepare students for a great career. Work in state-of-the-art labs, learn from instructors with real-world experience and gain industry connections that open doors to high-demand jobs.
-
St. Charles Community College Regional Workforce Innovation Center
SCC’s new, future-focused Regional Workforce Innovation Center, located at 2400 Interstate Drive in Wentzville, opened its doors to students in August 2025.
-
Center for Workforce Innovation and Labor at St. Louis Community College
This facility on the STLCC Florissant Valley campus serves more than 500 students annually through innovative workforce programs. CWI is home to:
- Six aerospace labs
- Three Technical Training Labs (Programmable Logic Controllers, Industrial Maintenance Training, and Green Technologies and Sustainable Construction)
- A large equipment lab
- Three all-purpose classrooms
- A computer lab, and more
-
Lewis & Clark Community College
With campuses in Edwardsville, East Alton and Godfrey, IL, Lewis & Clark Community College offers adult education classes, community and continuing education programs, online classes, and workforce training. Students can obtain degrees and certificates in base fields such as:
- Industrial Technology
- Logistics Management
- Truck Driver Training
- Construction Labor
- Welding Technology
-
Ranken Technical College
Students at Ranken receive comprehensive instruction and hands-on experience while using up-to-date technology. Degree programs include:
- Fabrication and Welding Technology
- Industrial Technology
- Precision Machining Technology
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology
- Facilities Technology
-
East Central College Missouri Manufacturing Wins Program
Through Mo Manufacturing Wins, students can earn certificates recognized and endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers. Skill certificates available include:
- Production
- Industrial Maintenance
- Welding
- Machining
- Transportation and Logistics