A new report from the Missouri Chamber Foundation shows that over the next five years, the Show-Me State is expected to be a top 10 state for tech manufacturing job growth.

During a news conference this week at the state Capitol, the report’s lead researcher, Ted Abernathy, said the average annual salary of a Missouri tech job is about $146,000.

“One of the things about the tech sector is it has one of the highest multipliers, because it has a big supply chain and high wages. One job in the tech sector results in almost two other jobs throughout the economy. So we like tech for tech, but we also like tech for what it does everywhere else,” said Abernathy.

State Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and CEO Kara Corches said Missouri is positioned to lead in tech manufacturing and other emerging technology sectors.

“We know that our tech and innovation sector is so vital to the vibrancy of our state’s economy. We know that tech accounts for 5% of Missouri’s total employment and 10% of the state’s gross state product,” said Corches. “And we believe that over the last five years, the tech industry added more than 14,000 net new jobs.”

The number of tech jobs added makes it the 4th highest number of jobs added by any industry in the state. The report also said over the last five years, Missouri has been the 7th fastest growing state in tech manufacturing jobs.

Corches said there is a lot of momentum right now in Missouri’s tech ecosystem.

“We know that emerging areas like Ag tech, AI, cybersecurity and Fintech (financial technology) have already seen significant job posting growth,” said Corches. “And this shows that tech is not just in the cities – tech is everywhere. Tech is in the Booheel. Tech is in Hannibal.”

Rep. Dane Diehl, R-Butler, said technology is a critical to the agriculture industry.

“I feel like ag, for me, growing up and what you know, we’ve always been on the forefront of innovation and industry across the state. Getting in the legislature, learning that Missouri is truly one of the biotech hubs of the whole United States, is very, very important to me,” said Diehl.

Diehl, a farmer from southwest Missouri, said agriculture is on the forefront of innovation in the Show Me State.

“The technology sector across Missouri, it’s ever changing. I know from the farming side we have technologies that growing up with my grandfather also, he didn’t adapt. But my mindset has always been, where is it going to stop? And I don’t think we’ve, we’ve reached that in any sector of technology in Missouri.”

Sen. Kurtis Gregory, R-Marshall, said drones are advancing agriculture in a big way.

“These drones can actually monitor, thanks to smart computer people that I am not, can take those aerial photos and make product recommendations based on like how green the crop is and what kind of fertilizer you might need. That way, you’re getting the right rate, the right time, and the right application number,” he said.

Gregory is also a farmer and the co-chair of Missouri’s Legislative Technology and Innovation Caucus.

“It’s been said that by the year 2050, we need to double our agricultural output to feed the world,” said Gregory. “The only way we’re going to do that is to keep innovating and finding better ways to produce more with less, because every day of the week there’s farmland going out of production. And with that, there’s going to be less food grown and raised to feed the country and the world.”

David Pearce, the University of Central Missouri’s Executive Director of Governmental Relations, touted the university’s Computer and Information Science programs.

“I was so glad to look on page 42 and it said this Computer and Information Science programs had been stalled over the last few years but saw a jump in 2023. This jump was a result of more master’s degree-level programs being completed, particularly at the University of Central Missouri and UMKC. These two universities had some of the biggest gains and completions awarded from 2022 to 2023 in the nation,” said Pearce.

UCM’s total enrollment in computer science, cyber security and Computer Information Systems has increased over the last five years by 229%.

“Assuming this trajectory, enrollment could reach 4,000 students by the year 2030. And last year, UCM made up 51% of Missouri’s Master’s (degrees) in Computer Science – more than all the public universities combined,” said Pearce.

Other key takeaways in the report say Missouri is among the lowest five states in business costs, business taxes, and housing burdens for workers. It ranks the state 12th in women working in the tech industry and 9th among all states in the diversity of the tech workforce.

The report says Missouri must urgently strengthen broadband infrastructure and cybersecurity to bolster access to reliable internet and protect growing digital threats. It recommends a focus on recruitment, especially among young people, as well as creating public-private partnerships for artificial intelligence. It urges Missouri to increase outreach to underrepresented groups in the tech workforce.

To view the full report, click here .