KC Metro Ranked Fourth in Job Growth in the Mid-America Region

Posted December 2, 2024

Over the past 12 months, the Kansas City metro has gained 14,500 jobs and has ranked 11th among 10 other comparable U.S. cities, according to the Mid-America Regional Council nonprofit.

The Mid-America Regional Council posted a data report that shows the Kansas City metropolitan economy added an increase of 17,500 seasonally-adjusted jobs in the first two quarters of the year. However, in the third quarter, Kansas City began to decrease losing around 4,000 jobs in the area.

The region’s gain of 14,500 jobs on average placed the Kansas City metro fourth out of 10 other peer metro areas. The peer metros include; Indianapolis, IN; Charlotte, NC; Raleigh, NC; Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Nashville, TN; Cincinnati, OH; Portland, OR; Minneapolis, MN and Columbus, OH.

Education and Health Services and Accommodation and Food were two industries that experienced a slow progression in job growth since June. Education and Health Services was down to 4,500 by September 2024 while Accommodation and Food was down 2,200 jobs in the same period.

The Professional and Business Services sector has lost just 400 jobs by September, an improvement compared to the estimated loss of 3,400 jobs in 2023. The Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector has grown to 4,000 annually in the September data.

While some sectors are seeing a rebound and finding ways to stabilize their workforce, other factors could still cause significant ripples in the months to come. The GM Fairfax plant in Kansas City, KS will lay off its workers so the facility adjusts its production to make the Chevy Bolt EV model. Inversely, the Panasonic battery plant, located in De Soto, will create more than 4,000 jobs in the area and is expected to open in 2025.