STLCC Hosts 18th Annual State of the St. Louis Workforce

August 13, 2026

Regional leaders and STLCC Chancellor Jeff Pittman on stage

St. Louis employers are preparing for a workforce shaped by changing skill needs, an aging population, new technology and shifting expectations about how and where people work.

Those changes took center stage Aug. 5 as more than 275 business, education, workforce and community leaders gathered at STLCC-Meramec for the 18th Annual State of the St. Louis Workforce event, hosted by St. Louis Community College’s Employer and Workforce Solutions division.

The annual event pairs regional workforce data with conversations about what those trends mean for St. Louis employers and workers. This year’s report, "The Changing Nature of Work," draws on public labor data, job-posting analysis and a survey of 600 regional employers.

“This event continues to serve as a catalyst for meaningful conversations about the workforce challenges and opportunities facing our region,” said Rob Lee, associate vice chancellor, Employer and Workforce Solutions. “By bringing together leaders from business, education and workforce development, we can better align strategies that strengthen the talent pipeline and support economic growth throughout the St. Louis region.”

St. Louis Employers Look Ahead

The report points to cautious optimism among regional employers. While 65% maintained the same workforce size over the past year, 39% expect to increase employment in 2027, up 13 percentage points from the previous year.

Growth also comes with challenges. Forty-three percent of employers identified a shortage of workers with the necessary knowledge or skills as a barrier to expanding employment.

Those findings are especially important as employers consider how to replace retiring workers, prepare future leaders and build stronger talent pipelines across the region.

Skills Take Center Stage

The report also looks at what St. Louis employers need from their workforce. More than 400,000 online job postings were recorded in the St. Louis metropolitan area between May 2025 and April 2026, with registered nurses leading regional demand.

Speaker presenting during the 2026 State of the St. Louis Workforce event at STLCC-Meramec. — This year’s event highlighted the workforce trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the St. Louis region.

Communication appeared in 36% of job postings, making it the most requested common skill, while the report also explores changing approaches to training, skills-based hiring and the qualities employers value in job applicants.

Work Continues to Change

This year’s program featured two panel discussions examining the opportunities and challenges of a multigenerational workforce. Panelists explored strategies to strengthen communication, improve retention, develop future leaders and support employees at different stages of their careers.

The conversations reflected several broader themes in the report, including the return to on-site work, changing approaches to employee training and the growing role of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

The report also takes a closer look at startup activity, workforce demographics and how technology is changing the types of work people perform. Together, the findings offer employers a deeper look at the forces shaping the St. Louis workforce and the decisions they may face in the years ahead.

Explore the 2026 State of the St. Louis Workforce report for the full findings, data and analysis.

Check back soon for a video recap of the event, which will be posted here and on STLCC social media channels.