Study: Missouri tops Kansas in tech job growth
August 27, 2015 | Ashley Jost
Part of the Kansas City metro area was represented on a recent report of states showing the most growth for tech-related jobs.
Missouri hung on to the bottom end of Dice.com’s 17-state list at No. 15, showing 1.17 percent job growth in the tech industry during the last six months.
KCnext President Ryan Weber chalks it up to the pipeline of talent, to some extent. Weber’s organization works to grow the tech industry in the Kansas City metro.
“I would attribute that to the ability of the state’s education system to produce the talent that it does,” Weber said about Missouri, pointing to the University of Missouri and the Missouri University of Science and Technology in particular, which yield the bulk of the state’s graduates in tech-related fields. “In general, they’re producing more talent than the state of Kansas, which might explain why Missouri [made the list].”
Weber added that the Kansas City metro area currently has more than 2,000 open tech positions. Universities must help fill that need if the metro area is to realize its potential as a top tech hub, Weber previously said.
Dice.com used aggregated data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on hiring in computer systems design and related tech services to compile the list. Dice is a 24-year old website that focuses on technology job postings. The company has published a similar tech growth list using federal statistics for the last four years.
Minnesota topped this list with 8.36 percent growth, which the blog attributes to steady quarter-over-quarter growth during the last year.
Here’s the list in full, along with percentage increases in states’ tech populations:
- Minnesota (8.36 percent)
- Utah (5.75 percent)
- Nebraska (5.22 percent)
- Michigan (4.47 percent)
- Florida (4.27 percent)
- Massachusetts (3.75 percent)
- New York (3.58 percent)
- Maryland (3.45 percent)
- Oregon (3.42 percent)
- California (3.04 percent)
- Virginia (2.31 percent)
- Illinois (2.14 percent)
- Texas (1.97 percent)
- Ohio (1.39 percent)
- Missouri (1.17 percent)
- Georgia (0.96 percent)
- New Jersey (0.43 percent)
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Brewery, taproom taking root in former JoCo Macy’s amid neighborhood transformation
An Iowa-based brewer — lauded for igniting economic growth and vibrancy in the communities where it plants its taprooms — announced plans Monday to expand its Big Grove brand into Prairie Village, projecting a fall 2026 opening within a long-dormant retail space in Johnson County. Dirt already is moving outside the former Macy’s department store…
Goodwill merger pushes expansion plans, KC’s new adult high school to the front of the store, leader says
Consolidating operations between offices in Kansas City in St. Louis not only will produce one of the largest Goodwill footprints in the nation, said Mike Sinnett; the move is expected to bolster efforts to add more retail stores and deepen initiatives like the soon-to-open Excel Center at Bannister Road. Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern…
LISTEN: Biotech founder breaks down how she turns microorganisms into high-quality protein in just 24 hours
On this episode of Startland News’ Plug and Play Topeka founder podcast series, we explore a ground-breaking food innovation with Katelijne “Kate” Bekers, co-founder and CEO of MicroHarvest. This biotech startup is pioneering the world’s fastest protein production — turning microorganisms into high-quality protein in just 24 hours, using sustainable fermentation and agricultural side-streams, while…
From ravioli to revenue: How Pasta La Fata became a fresh pasta powerhouse in mid-Missouri
Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. COLUMBIA, Mo. — Michelle “Shelly” La Fata built Pasta La Fata with…