By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce has heard misconceptions about the job market in St. Joseph, but officials say those are unfounded.
Chamber President and CEO Natalie Redmond says there is a number of good jobs in St. Joseph with an average wage of $52,754.
"That actually compares, we're seventh across the state, that puts us better than areas like Springfield and Joplin a lot of same size or a little bit bigger communities," Redmond tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "Really the only counties that were higher than us were the counties in major metropolitan areas like St. Louis and Kansas City
Redmond says a lot of the reason she believes St. Joseph is doing well is because of the number of skilled manufacturing jobs available.
Redmond says many people may not understand that manufacturing jobs are nothing like what they used to be.
"Things that make it a lot easier where you're not doing heavy lifting, you’re problem solving, you're maybe using some robotics, or computer skills I mean the manufacturing of today is way different than the manufacturing of 30 or 40 years ago," Redmond explains. "And having manufacturing in your community is so vital to impact the local economy."
Redmond says manufacturing is one of the most vital sectors in helping the economy with how much it contributes to small business. She says it's also great because it's an industry that's largely recession proof.
"It boded us well in 2008 and it boded us well during COVID because you have to have pharmaceuticals and you have to have transportation with places like Altec, you have to have different food so we have a lot of food manufacturers and pet food manufacturers and those are all items that people have to have," Redmond says. "So, you're going to be resilient in a time where other folks jobs might be on the line."
Redmond says many of those manufacturing jobs are also high paying jobs, contributing to that seventh place starting wage ranking.