Boone County Employment Sector Numbers (Average)

 

2005 Avg

 

2006 Avg

 

2007 Avg

 

2008 Avg

 

2009 3Q Avg

Agriculture

166

154

154

161

163

Mining

83

77

68

67

75

Utilities

141

143

143

140

146

Construction

4,297

4,335

4,132

3,895

3,305

Manufacturing

4,924

4,639

4,429

3,919

3,440

Wholesale Trade

2,637

2,726

2,635

2,748

2,255

Retail Trade

9,938

10,293

10,332

10,098

10,749

Transportation & Warehousing

1,281

1,279

1,495

1,438

1,336

Information

1,231

1,157

1,266

1,310

1,156

Finance & Insurance

3,077

3,336

3,355

3,453

3,350

Real Estate & Rental & Leasing

1,152

1,250

1,257

1,246

1,164

Professional & Technical Services

2,292

2,483

2,457

2,587

2,916

Management of Companies & Enterprises

2,263

2,277

2,220

2,291

2,235

Administrative & Waste Services

3,136

2,427

2,885

2,878

2,127

Educational Services

1,116

1,099

1,200

1,207

1,222

Health Care & Social Assistance

5,335

5,750

5,956

6,309

6,345

Arts, Entertainment & Recreation

620

652

672

696

710

Accomodation & Food Services

7,696

8,226

8,409

8,542

8,174

Other Services, Except Public Administration

2,123

2,312

2,378

2,382

2,261

Local Governement

6,086

6,218

6,350

6,708

6,426

State Government

16,390

16,715

16,628

17,011

16,784

Federal Government

2,037

1,975

2,012

2,048

2,155

Source: Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (updated 3/18/2010)

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Business

Quick Business Fact

  • Ball State University lists Missouri #1 in the "2008 State of the Industry Report" conducted by Michael Hicks, Director of Ball State's Bureau of Business Research. In addition to outranking in production-based industries, Missouri fared well regarding lower corporate and property taxes than other states, and for research and development efforts.
  • Forbes listed Columbia 4th "Best Place for Business and Careers" in a 2008 study that ranked 179 MSA's with populations up to 240,000. Factors included cost of doing business, job growth and educational attainment. This is the ninth year in a row Columbia has ranked in the top 60.
  • Forbes ranked Columbia the 11th smartest city in its 2008 Smartest Cities in America study that looked at education levels among residents.
  • Moody's Economy.com's 2007 Business Vitality Index rated Columbia 41st (of 379 metros) based on household income, growth, labor availability and regional cost structure and employment volatility.
  • The 2007 Mayor's Challenge (as featured in Expansion Management) ranked Columbia a five-star Business Opportunity Metro and 12th overall in terms of public schools, quality of life, college educated workers, logistics infrastructure, healthcare costs, taxes/government spending and reputation among site selection consultants.
  • The Center for Digital Government in 2007 ranked Boone County in the top 10 counties in the country (with populations less than 150,000) for their use of technology to improve the delivery of services to residents.
  • Expansion Management magazine ranked Columbia a five-star metro in their 2007 Knowledge Worker Quotient, which ranks areas based on their ability to provide the depth of talent and innovative environment upon which knowledge-driven technologies thrive. That same study ranked Columbia the 4th Best Metro for College-Educated Workers.
  • USA Today in 2005 ranked Boone County in the Top 100 of Tech Savvy Counties in the nation. The study states that Boone County residents are more likely than average to buy and use the latest technology such as Wi-Fi and internet phone service.
  • A 2005 study by Policom Corporation ranked all US Metropolitan (populations over 50,000) and Micropolitan (populations over 10,000 but less than 50,000) Statistical Areas in terms of economic strength. Columbia ranked 136th of all metros, due to its rapid, consistent growth in both size and quality for an extended period of time.
  • The 2004 Restaurant Growth Index, published by Restaurant Business magazine, ranked Columbia in the top 15 percent (52nd) of communities nationwide in which a restaurant is likely to succeed. Factors included total restaurant sales, sales as a percent of income and per capita sales.
  • The 2003 Southern Market Business Climate Index ranked Columbia the 15th best business environment after studying the area’s unemployment rate and number of jobs added to the community.
Education

Quick Education Fact

  • Columbia College earned a top-tier ranking for the fourth consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report's 2008 edition of America's Best Colleges. The magazine also ranked among the "Great Schools at a Great Price" for schools in its category.
  • Expansion Management magazine's 2007 Education Quotient rated the Columbia Public School District a "Gold Medal District" in their study based on graduate outcomes and the community's commitment to public education (teacher's salaries, student-teacher ratios, and per pupil expenditures). Districts receiving the gold distinction are in the top 17 percent of US school districts with enrollment above 3,300 students. In a similar study, the magazine ranked Columbia in the Top 10 Metros for Public Schools.
  • Expansion Management magazine's 2007 Metro Public Schools Quotient a 5-star Public School Metro and 11th overall in districts with populations less than 500,000.
  • RelocateAmerica named Columbia one of the Top 25 Places to Live to go to School in their 2007 study that recognized communities that offer familiars a great place to live considering the quality of schools and have choices in education offerings for children.
  • Newsweek magazine's 2006 article entitled "What Makes a High School Great?" listed Columbia's David H. Hickman High School in the top five percent of public high schools nationwide using a method that takes into account AP and/or IB tests taken.
  • The "America's Best Colleges 2005" study conducted by U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) in the top tier of national universities based on factors such as graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student/faculty ratio, admissions selectivity, SAT and ACT scores and alumni giving levels. In a related study, "America's Best Graduate Schools 2005", the magazine ranked MU's Medical School ninth in the nation for its primary care program, the graduate program at the College of Education 42nd, and the School of Law at 63rd.
  • U.S. News & World Report's 2005 study of Midwestern Comprehensive Colleges that offer bachelor's degrees ranked Columbia College 37th after examining its graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student/faculty ratio, admissions selectivity, SAT and ACT scores and alumni giving levels.
Community

Quick Community Fact

  • Country Home ranked Columbia in the top 100 Best Green Cities in America (2008), which looked at official energy policies, green power, green buildings and the availability of fresh, locally grown food.
  • Expansion Management magazine rated Columbia a five-star metro in their 2007 Quality of Life Quotient, which rated 362 MSA's to determine which offer the best middle class lifestyle for manufacturing and service companies. Columbia ranked 2nd in Overall Quality of Life, 7th in Adult Education Level and 2nd in Lowest Crime Rate.
  • Money magazine ranked Columbia in the Top 100 Best Places to Live in their 2006 study that looked at factors including housing, student test scores, air quality, commute time and health of residents.
  • Kiplinger.com ranked Columbia 24th in its 2006 study 50 Smart Places to Live. Columbia ranked well due to its affordable housing, access to quality health care and strong economy.
  • Relocate-America.com ranked Columbia in the Top 10 Places (#8) to Live in 2006. Communities are judged based using key data regarding education, employment, economy, crime, parks, recreation and housing.
  • The 2005 Reader's Choice Awards published by Rural Missouri magazine ranked Columbia the "Best Town to Live" in Missouri. Columbia has held the top spot since the publication's first Reader's Choice Awards in 2002.
  • Sports Illustrated in 2005 named the University of Missouri-Columbia's Student Recreation Complex the best student rec center in the nation, citing its pools, cardio equipment, aerobic classes and entertainment options.
  • Men's Journal listed Columbia the 42nd best place to live in the nation in their 2005 study based on the number of "ample jobs, lots of health care, cheap housing and proximity to hiking and biking in the foggy-bottom valleys of the Ozarks." In the same study, Columbia ranked the 4th least stressful metro area in which to live.
  • In a study of 314 MSA's by InCharge Institute of America, Columbia ranked the ninth most "financially fit" city, when compared to other metro areas with populations less than 200,000. The 2004 study examined real disposable income, employment opportunities, credit worthiness, levels of savings and refinancing activity of Columbia residents.
  • Forbes magazine in 2004 named Columbia a "Porch-Swing Community", deeming it a great place for individuals in search of that Norman Rockwell hometown feeling – vintage Americana infused with parades, country fairs and other family activities. Only 10 cities were named in this category, in which an excellent public school system was a must-have.
  • A 2004 study by Sperling's Best Places of the "Most and Least Stressful Cities in America" ranked Columbia the 15th Least Stressful City in which to live. Significant factors examined include unemployment rate, crime, commute time and suicide. Other factors included divorce rate, mental health, alcohol consumption and number of cloudy days.
  • Sperling's Best Places and MSN internet service ranked Columbia ninth out of 331 MSA's in their 2003 "Best Places to Live in America" study. The rankings are based on data collected in 70 categories including cost of living, crime rate, education, housing, arts and culture, health, leisure, transportation and weather.
Health

Quick Health Fact

  • In their 2007 Health Care Cost Quotient, Expansion Management magazine rated Missouri a 5-star state in terms of lowest health care costs. That same study ranked the state 2nd in both Health Insurance Costs and Healthcare Provider Visit Costs.
  • U.S. News & World Report in 2003 ranked the University of Missouri-Columbia's School of Medicine's Department of Family and Community Medicine the second-best in the nation based on expert opinion about program quality, quality of faculty and performance of students when they enter and leave the program.
  • Organic Style magazine listed Columbia ninth in their 2003 "healthy cities" study. Factors included air quality, toxics, agricultural area and regional pollution.
Kudos

Columbia Kudos

  • Forbes listed Columbia 3rd "Best Metro for Business and Careers" in a 2007 study that ranked 179 MSA's with populations up to 232,000. Factors included cost of living, job growth and educational attainment. This is the eighth year in a row Columbia has ranked in the top 60.
  • The 2006 Mayor's Challenge (as featured in Expansion Management magazine) ranked Columbia a five-star Best Metro for Future Business Locations. Factors included Columbia's college-educated workforce, public education, quality of life, logistics infrastructure, healthcare cost and availability and taxes/government spending.
  • Expansion Management magazine rated Columbia a five-star city in their 2006 Quality of Life Quotient, which rated 362 MSA's based on the best places for manufacturing companies to grow and prosper – from a livability and affordability standpoint.';
  • Expansion Management magazine ranked Columbia a five-star city in their 2006 Knowledge Worker Quotient, which ranks areas based on their ability to support the technology revolution in the U.S. The same study named Columbia sixth in the nation for college educated workers.
  • Forbes listed Columbia the 16th "Best Small Metro for Business and Careers" in a 2006 study that ranked 179 MSA's with populations up to 231,000. Factors included cost of living, job growth and educational attainment. This is the seventh year in a row Columbia has ranked in the top 60.
  • In their 2005 Health Care Cost Quotient, Expansion Management magazine ranked Missouri sixth in the nation in terms of lowest health care costs, adequate coverage and least amount of risks to employers.
  • Expansion Management magazine's 2005 Education Quotient rated the Columbia Public School District a "Gold Medal District" in their study based on graduate outcomes and the community's commitment to public education (teacher's salaries, student-teacher ratios, and per pupil expenditures). Districts receiving the gold distinction are in the top 17 percent of US school districts with enrollment above 3,300 students. In a similar study, the magazine ranked Columbia in the Top 10 Metros for Public Schools.
  • Newsweek magazine's 2005 Complete List of the Top U.S. Schools report listed Columbia's David H. Hickman High School in the top four percent of high schools nationwide.
  • The May 2005 issue of Expansion Management magazine ranked Columbia a five-star city in their 2005 Knowledge Worker Quotient, which identified metro areas that are exceptionally well placed to attract and nurture high-tech companies and entrepreneurs because of their concentration of extremely well-educated workers. The study evaluated 362 MSA's in the areas of adult education levels among college graduates, number of medical doctors, number of colleges and universities and the R&D spending among those universities. That same study named Columbia one of America's "Super Cities of the Future" and ranked Columbia 13th in the number of Ph.D's per capita.
  • Expansion Management magazine rated Columbia a five-star city in their 2005 Quality of Life Quotient. Measured against 362 other MSA's, Columbia fared well in traditional quality of life indicators, as well as the quality of its public schools, adult education levels, standard of living, spousal employment opportunities and traffic and commute times. Columbia also received favorable rankings for its lower crime rate, affordable housing and continuing education opportunities.
  • The 2004 Mayor's Challenge ranked Columbia 14th overall out of 331 US MSA's for Business Expansion and Relocation. MSA's were judged based upon public education, college-educated work force, health care costs and availability, government taxes and spending, quality of life and logistics infrastructure. Columbia ranked fifth in metro areas with populations of 250,000 or less.
  • Expansion Management magazine's 2004 Education Quotient rated the Columbia Public School District a "Blue Ribbon District" in their study based on graduate outcomes and the community's commitment to public education (teacher's salaries, student-teacher ratios, and per pupil expenditures). Districts receiving the blue ribbon distinction are in the top one-third of US school districts with enrollment figures above 3,300 students. In a similar study, the magazine ranked Columbia Public School District 11th in districts with less than 40,000 students.
  • A 2004 study by Policom Corporation ranked all US Metropolitan (populations over 50,000) and Micropolitan (populations over 10,000 but less than 50,000) Statistical Areas in terms of economic strength. Of the 1,035 areas studied, Columbia ranked in the top 11 percent (112th), due to its rapid, consistent growth in both size and quality for an extended period of time.
  • Forbes listed Columbia the 38th "Best Small Metro for Business" in a 2004 study that ranked 168 MSA's with populations up to 335,000. Factors included cost of living, job growth and educational attainment. This is the fifth year in a row Columbia has ranked in the top 50.
  • Men's Journal listed Columbia the 34th best place to live in the nation in their 2003 study that described Columbia as the "idyllic Midwestern college town."
  • Restaurant Business magazine's 2002 site survey named Columbia the 43rd best spot in the nation to open a new restaurant. Factors leading to Columbia's high ranking include recent growth, Columbia's position as a regional destination for dining and shopping, its high levels of disposable income and its high per capita restaurant sales.
  • Black Issues in Higher Education in 2002 ranked Columbia College among the top 75 accredited colleges and universities in the nation to confer bachelor's degrees to African-Americans.
  • Inc. magazine reported in 2001 that Columbia's Socket Internet Services was one of the fastest growing private firms in the United States. Socket provides internet services to cities in eight states.
  • Modern Healthcare and U.S. News & World Report in 2001 published studies naming two Columbia hospitals, Columbia Regional Hospital and Boone Hospital Center, among the nation's top 100 orthopedic hospitals.
  • U.S. News & World Report in 2001 named the University of Missouri Healthcare System one of the top 50 cancer treatment hospitals in the country.
  • Modern Healthcare published the results of a 2001 study naming Boone Hospital Center one of the country's top 100 cardiovascular hospitals.
  • Modern Maturity in 2000 selected Columbia as one of "The 50 Most Alive Places to Live" in the nation. Criteria included ethnic diversity, recreational options, cultural vitality, low crime rate, lifelong learning opportunities, good hospitals and restaurants, public transportation, walking accessibility and civic activities.
  • Money magazine named Columbia a runner-up in the small city division of their "Best Places to Live 2000" competition due to factors such as economy, schools and healthcare. Columbia has ranked in this competition 13 of the past 15 years.
  • KBIA, the University of Missouri-Columbia's NPR station, was the most-listened to University-licensed NPR station and the second most-listened to public radio station in the nation in 2000.
  • Sprint Business ranked Columbia the "26th Most Productive City in America" in a 1999 study of 313 metro areas. Productivity was determined using eight criteria including employment rates, growth and educational attainment.
  • The US Conference of Mayors recognized Columbia for having the second highest growth rate (22.75 percent) in high-tech output among all US metro cities in 1999.
  • Good Housekeeping magazine's 1999 guide to the "Top 318 Cancer Specialists for Women" cited Columbia as home to two of those professionals specializing in lung, breast and colon disease in women.
  • The Editor & Publisher Market Guide ranked Columbia the third best US metropolitan area in 1999 after studying the cost of living index, crime index and education levels in Columbia.
  • 50 Fabulous Places to Raise Your Family (1997) named Columbia one of only a few "fabulous" Midwestern communities in which to raise a family.
  • Fortune ranked Columbia ninth in the nation in their 1997 "Smart Cities" study based on the percentage of citizens who hold a four-year college degree.
  • American Health for Women called Columbia one of the 10 "Healthiest Cities for Women" in 1997, based on women's health options, career potential, crime index, environment, family life, fitness and urban stressors.