Manufacturing in Missouri: Diversification and Specialization in 2000

The manufacturing sector still continues to be an important part of local and regional economies in the United States, especially in rural areas. Given the nature of the global economy, policy-makers need to identify areas of economic comparative advantage that they can build upon; and areas of economic vulnerability that need to be strengthened.

In 2000, counties that had a fully diversified manufacturing base include Lawrence, Taney, St. Louis City, Buchanan, Greene, Jasper and St. Clair, Jackson, St. Louis County and Pettis. However, several counties were fully dependent on one type of manufacturing. These counties are located in the northern portion of Missouri and include Worth, Putnam, Sullivan, Gentry, and Monroe counties. Overall, by 2000 Missouri had a significantly diversified manufacturing base.

Between 1990 and 2000, the number of counties that have above average specialization in top-of-cycle manufacturing has increased from forty-one in 1990, to forty-six in 1995, and to forty-seven in 2000. In 2000, specialization in top-cycle manufacturing was spread over most economic regions of the state, with a high concentration in 7 major areas.

Between 1990 and 2000, the number of counties that had above average specialization in bottom-of-cycle manufacturing decreased from seventy in 1990 to sixty-eight in 2000. In 2000, bottom-cycle manufacturing was concentrated in the east central, southeast and southwest regions of the state.

Between 1990 and 2000, the number of counties that are highly specialized in resource-based manufacturing declined from fifty-seven in 1990, to fifty-three in 1995 and fifty in 2000. This type of manufacturing has been concentrated in three main areas of the state. The south-central and southeast areas are involved mainly in the production of lumber and wood products, counties in the southwest corner of the state - involved in food processing, and finally, the central and north central regions of the state are primarily involved in agricultural and food processing.

Between 1990 and 2000, the number of counties that are highly specialized in high-technology manufacturing increased from five in 1990 to eleven in 2000 In general, the northern, west central, south central and southeastern portions of Missouri have low concentrations of high-tech specialization, relative to the state as a whole.