Missouri nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 5,900 jobs in August 2025, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from July’s rate of 4.1 percent. Private industry employment decreased by 2,900 jobs and government employment decreased by 3,000 jobs. Over the year, there was an increase of 33,900 jobs from August 2024 to August 2025, and the unemployment rate increased by four-tenths of a percentage point, from 3.7 percent in August 2024 to 4.1 percent in August 2025.

EMPLOYMENT    
Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment was 3,021,800 in August 2025, down by 5,900 from the revised July 2025 figure. The July 2025 total was revised downward by 1,700 jobs from the preliminary estimate.

Goods-producing industries increased by 800 jobs over the month, with mining, logging, and construction gaining 1,300 jobs and manufacturing declining by 500 jobs. Private service-providing industries declined by 3,700 jobs between July 2025 and August 2025. Employment in private service-providing industries decreased in private education and health services (-4,100 jobs); professional and business services (-2,700 jobs); and trade, transportation, and utilities (-500 jobs). Employment increased in leisure and hospitality (2,100 jobs); information (1,200 jobs); other services (200 jobs); and financial activities (100 jobs). Total government employment decreased by 3,000 jobs over the month, with decreases in local (-2,700 jobs), federal (-200 jobs), and state government (-100 jobs).

Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 33,900 jobs from August 2024 to August 2025. The largest gains were in private education and health services (19,600 jobs); leisure and hospitality (11,200 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (4,900 jobs); and other services (1,200 jobs). Employment decreased in professional and business services (-7,300 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-2,700 jobs); information (-2,500 jobs); manufacturing (-900 jobs); and financial activities (-300 jobs). Government employment increased by 10,700 jobs over the year, with increases in local (9,600 jobs) and state (3,200 jobs) government and a decrease in federal government (-2,100 jobs).

UNEMPLOYMENT   
Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained steady in August 2025 at 4.1 percent. The August 2025 rate was four-tenths of a percentage point higher than the August 2024 rate of 3.7 percent. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 131,536 in August 2025, up by 1,757 from the revised July total of 129,779.

The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased in August 2025, declining by two-tenths of a percentage point to 4.5 percent from the July 2025 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 4.7 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 3.9 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for August 2025 was 4.5 percent.

Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.6 percent in August 2025, 1.3 percentage points higher than the national rate of 62.3 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61 percent in August 2025, 1.4 percentage points higher than the national rate of 59.6 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in August 2025, two-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.3 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than 10 years.
​

by Sara Unrein and Grain Valley News staff
​

The Planning and Zoning Commission met Wednesday evening, approving a conditional use permit for a marijuana dispensary and denying a change of zoning request that would have allowed a convenience store and gas station to locate near Hoot Owl Estates at Duncan Road and Buckner Tarsney Road.

Elevation Onyx Dispensary was granted a conditional use permit for a proposed marijuana dispensary with drive-thru on an approximately 1.37-acre lot. The property is zoned District DTZ (Downtown Transition Zone). The 1.37-acre proposed marijuana dispensary is generally located a quarter of a mile west of Buckner Tarsney Road, on the south side of Jefferson Street, just west of the Quik-Trip. 

The bulk of the meeting consisted of residents voicing opposition to a proposed rezoning request to allow for a convenience store and gas station 

DBL Architecture, Inc. requested a change of zoning from District C-1 “Central Business” to C-2 “Central Business District” and R-3 “Multifamily residential district” for a convenience store with fueling station and two lots proposed as R-3. This property is located less than a quarter mile south of Duncan Road on the east side of Buckner Tarsney Road near the Hoot Owl Estates subdivision. 

Residents expressed a number of concerns over approximately 30 minutes of public comments, including environmental and health concerns, lighting and privacy disruptions of residents bordering the proposed business, as well as concerns over increased traffic and crime. 

The Commission ultimately voted to deny the rezoning request. 

Board of Aldermen meeting recap

The Board of Aldermen met briefly Monday evening for their regularly scheduled meeting.
​
The Board appointed Ellen Greenberg-Jacobs as the new prosecutor. 

The Board also approved the second reading of a bill allowing the city to take donation of a lot located at 513 NW Gregg in the alleyway behind downtown businesses located on the west side of Main Street. 

The next Board of Aldermen meeting will be held at City Hall on Monday, September 22nd at 6:30pm.
​

Missouri nonfarm payroll employment increased by 17,100 jobs in July 2025, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point. Private industry employment increased by 6,800 jobs and government employment increased by 10,300 jobs. Over the year, there was an increase of 49,300 jobs from July 2024 to July 2025, and the unemployment rate increased by four-tenths of a percentage point, from 3.7 percent in July 2024 to 4.1 percent in July 2025.        

EMPLOYMENT     
Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment was 3,029,400 in July 2025, up by 17,100 from the revised June 2025 figure. The June 2025 total was revised downward by 2,500 jobs from the preliminary estimate.

Goods-producing industries decreased by 200 jobs over the month, with manufacturing gaining 1,200 jobs and mining, logging, and construction declining by 1,400 jobs. Private service-providing industries increased by 7,000 jobs between June 2025 and July 2025. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in trade, transportation, and utilities (4,000 jobs); leisure and hospitality (2,800 jobs); professional and business services (600 jobs); other services (500 jobs); and private education and health services (100 jobs). Employment decreased in information (-900 jobs) and financial activities (-100 jobs). Total government employment increased by 10,300 jobs over the month, with increases in local (10,000 jobs) and state government (400 jobs) and a decrease in federal government (-100 jobs).

Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 49,300 jobs from July 2024 to July 2025. The largest gains were in private education and health services (24,800 jobs); leisure and hospitality (9,300 jobs); manufacturing (5,000 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (3,600 jobs); and other services (1,400 jobs). Employment decreased in information (-3,800 jobs); professional and business services (-3,300 jobs); financial activities (-1,300 jobs); and trade, transportation, and utilities (-700 jobs). Government employment increased by 14,300 jobs over the year, with increases in local (12,100 jobs) and state (4,100 jobs) government and a decrease in federal government (-1,900 jobs).

UNEMPLOYMENT    
Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one tenth of a percentage point in July 2025 to 4.1 percent from the revised June 2025 rate of 4 percent. The July 2025 rate was three-tenths of a percentage point higher than the July 2024 rate. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 129,776 in July 2025, up by 2,206 from the revised June total of 127,570.

The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased in July 2025 by three-tenths of a percentage point to 4.7 percent from the June 2025 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 4.4 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 4.3 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for July 2025 was 4.6 percent.

Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.5 percent in July 2025, 1.3 percentage points higher than the national rate of 62.2 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 60.9 percent in July 2025, 1.3 percentage points higher than the national rate of 59.6 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in July 2025, one-tenth of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.2 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than 10 years.
​

Saint Mary’s Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare, has been named among U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Hospital edition as a High Performing Hospital in the clinical categories of Kidney Failure and Pneumonia.

This is the highest distinction a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings. U.S. News’ annual Procedures & Conditions ratings are designed to assist patients and their health care providers in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.

U.S. News evaluated more than 4,400 hospitals across 15 adult specialties and 22 procedures and conditions. U.S. News analyzed each hospital’s performance based on objective measures such as risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications and level of nursing care, evaluating patient outcomes using data from over 800 million records of patient care.
 
This honor from U.S. News and World Report comes after the hospital recently received  “A” grades in Patient Outcomes, Clinical Outcomes, Inclusivity, and Cost Efficiency.  St. Mary’s Medical Center ranks in the Top 5 hospitals in the state of Missouri for Patient Outcomes by The Lown Institute.  St. Mary’s Medical Center was also recognized by Healthgrades for being in the Top 5% for Patient Safety and Number 3 in the state of Missouri for Pulmonology.  This also includes receiving 5 Stars for the Treatment of Pneumonia, Pacemaker Procedures, Gallbladder Removal Surgery, and Diabetic Emergencies by Healthgrades.  
​

The 2025 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01am on Friday, August 1, and runs through Sunday, August 3.

By state law, the sales tax holiday begins on the first Friday in August and continues through the following Sunday. Certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items as defined by the statute, are exempt from sales tax for this time period only.

The 2025 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday exempts all state and local sales or use tax taxes during the exemption period on qualifying items. 
​The sales tax exemption is limited to:

• Clothing – any article having a taxable value of $100 or less
• School supplies – not to exceed $50 per purchase
• Computer software – taxable value of $350 or less
• Personal computers – not to exceed $1,500
• Computer peripheral devices – not to exceed $1,500
• Graphing calculators - not to exceed $150

​

Missouri nonfarm payroll employment increased by 7,900 jobs in June 2025, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was steady at 4 percent. Private industry employment increased by 7,200 jobs and government employment increased by 700 jobs. Over the year, there was an increase of 25,600 jobs from June 2024 to June 2025, and the unemployment rate increased by two-tenths of a percentage point, from 3.8 percent in June 2024 to 4 percent in June 2025.        

EMPLOYMENT     
Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment was 3,014,800 in June 2025, up by 7,900 from the revised May 2025 figure. The May 2025 total was revised upward by 4,600 jobs from the preliminary estimate.

Goods-producing industries decreased by 500 jobs over the month, with mining, logging, and construction gaining 1,100 jobs and manufacturing declining by 1,600 jobs. Private service-providing industries increased by 7,700 jobs between May 2025 and June 2025. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in private education and health services (6,800 jobs), leisure and hospitality (4,100 jobs), and information (200 jobs). Employment decreased in trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,200 jobs); professional and business services (-1,100 jobs); financial activities (-800 jobs); and other services (-300 jobs). Total government employment increased by 700 jobs over the month, with an increase in state government (1,300 jobs) and decreases in local (-400 jobs) and federal government (-200 jobs).

Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 25,600 jobs from June 2024 to June 2025. Industries with employment gains were private education and health services (25,200 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (4,400 jobs); leisure and hospitality (3,100 jobs); and other services (500 jobs).  Employment decreased over the year in professional and business services (-5,400 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,600 jobs); information (-2,900 jobs); manufacturing (-2,500 jobs); and financial activities (-1,100 jobs). Government employment increased by 8,900 jobs over the year, with increases in state (6,800 jobs) and local (4,000 jobs) government and a decrease in federal government (-1,900 jobs).

UNEMPLOYMENT      
Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June 2025 remained steady 4 percent. The June 2025 rate was two-tenths of a percentage point higher than the June 2024 rate. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 127,564 in June 2025, up by 2,527 from the revised May total of 125,037.

The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased in June 2025 by half of a percentage point to 4.4 percent from the May 2025 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 3.9 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 3.9 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for June 2025 was 4.4 percent.

​Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.5 percent in June 2025, 1.2 percentage points higher than the national rate of 62.3 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61 percent in June 2025, 1.3 percentage points higher than the national rate of 59.7 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 4 percent in June 2025, one-tenth of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.1 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than 10 years.

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 
 
The idea started out as a joke for Grain Valley residents Lauren Tyler and Samantha Lockwood.
 
Lockwood sent a text to a group of her friends, including Tyler that she wanted to open an ice cream shop on Main Street in Grain Valley.
 
She was expecting a different response, but Tyler talked her into putting the idea into motion.
 
“The landlord posted it up for rent,” Lockwood said of the section of the strip mall located at 201 N. Main St. “I sent a group text to some of our friends and asked them to talk me out of this. And (Lauren Tyler) said, ‘Why not? Let’s do it.’”
 
The idea was no laughing matter. Lauren Tyler along with her husband Jason and Lockwood opened Main Street Sweets Tuesday and are now serving ice cream to the local community.
 
“We wanted a local spot for kids and families to hang out on hot days,” Tyler said.
 
Added Lockwood: “There weren’t a lot of places for teenagers in the area to hang out at besides some coffee shops. This gives them a place where they can hang out and get a sweet treat.”
 
There were a pair of Grain Valley residents who planned on opening their own ice cream shop at the same location back in 2024, but it never came to fruition. There were freezers inside the building and the landlord agreed to let the Tylers and Lockwood use them for their business as long as they paid a year of rent in advance.
 
It was an opportunity the trio couldn’t pass up.
 
“People around the community were asking when they were going to open the ice cream shop and it never did,” Lockwood said. “I knew it was something people wanted, so why not give it a shot?’”
 
Tyler and Lockwood got to work on launching their business idea in mid-December and hoped to open it some time in March or April. That did not happen as they were new to opening a food business, so it was a process for them to get that section of the building ready and approved by the Jackson County health department.
 
Tyler said they had to excavate the floor and had to have plumbing installed for the sinks and other areas of their section of the building.
 
“The construction took the longest, we had to coordinate with the contractor’s schedules and our schedules,” Tyler said. “There was a little mix up to find out if the health department needed to clear us before we broke ground.”
 
Added Lockwood: “Once everyone got on the same page. It went pretty quick.”
 
Construction on their business was completed three weeks ago and that’s when the trio started ordering supplies and food they needed to run the business. They also started promoting Main Street Sweets on Facebook and Instagram in late June, which helped get the word out about it.
 
The Tylers and Lockwood purchase their ice cream supplies from a local business called One More Scoop, which is located on Vivion Road in Kansas City and is owned by Ian Allison. Tyler came up with the pink ice cream shaped sign inside the building as she also runs her own crafting business.
 
Since Tuesday, Lockwood and Lauren Tyler have run the store themselves, and Lockwood’s 13-year old son, Mason, also helps out with serving customers.
 
They offer more than 50 different flavors of ice cream, which includes some of their most popular ones like rainbow cake, lavender honey and gooey butter cake. They also offer soda, water, chips and ice cream sandwiches and candy bars.
 
Some of the store's specialties include ice cream nachos and banana splits. And they even offer flights of ice cream.
 
“Some people say, ‘There are so many flavors. I can’t choose,’” Tyler said. “Then we suggest a flight and they can get samples of what they want to try.”
 
Tyler and Lockwood said they plan on having the business open year-round and through three days, business has been booming.
 
“Business has been great so far,” Tyler said. “We have had awesome reviews from the community. The community has been supportive, and they absolutely love it. We are very appreciative.”
 
Main Street Sweets is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon until 9 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. Tyler and Lockwood can be reached during business hours by phone at 816-355-0080 or by email at [email protected]. You can also visit their Facebook page here.
 
 
 

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 
A 2016 Grain Valley High School grad thought it was time for a change.
 
Blake Desselle, who graduated from William Jewell College with a degree in psychology and exercise science, decided to open his own business.
 
Desselle began working for EXOS Physical Therapy & Sports Performance in Grain Valley two weeks before he graduated from college in 2021 until May 2024. Right before he left the company, there was an ownership change, and that’s when he decided to join his friend and business partner Tommy Hargrave to open Upward Performance & Physical Therapy in Grain Valley.
 
“Ever since I started at EXOS, my goal was to run my own facility,” Desselle said. “I wanted to do it in my hometown. There are not a lot of high-performance facilities around the eastern part of Jackson County.
 
“I was confident in what we were doing. Tommy and I worked together for a couple of years at EXOS. We knew each other’s dreams and visions. We wanted to do it for ourselves and the community.”
 
Added Hargrave, who was Desselle’s physical therapist when he played soccer at William Jewell: “We were able to market into a niche. The low hanging fruit was there and we thought, let’s go get it ourselves. We just kind of jumped on it.
 
“We didn’t want to follow in (EXOS’) footsteps. We wanted to do our own thing.”
 
Last Friday, the Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce, Desselle and Hargrave celebrated Upward Performance & Physical Therapy’s one-year anniversary.
 
Desselle admitted there were some obstacles along the way, but he and Hargrave have built a successful business. Desselle runs the sports performance side of the business, while Hargrave focuses on the physical therapy side.
 
The duo work mostly with high school athletes, including ones from Wellington-Napoleon, Lexington, Blue Springs South, Blue Springs, Fort Osage, Oak Grove, Lee’s Summit North, Lone Jack and Grain Valley.
 
The duo has also worked with a few college and professional athletes, including for Grain Valley soccer player Rylan Childers, who played professional soccer in Denmark; and Tanner Taula, a former Blue Springs football player who plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League.
 
“It has always been in my heart to bring this to Grain Valley,” Desselle said. “It’s scary to do something like this but we have overcome obstacles and work with a lot of high-level kids in the area.”
 
Desselle said he uses a scientific-backed approach when working with athletes on improving their performance in their respective sports. He said he has his athletes do certain exercises and uses force plates and has his clients jump on them and to test their shoulder strength.
 
He then collects that data and goes over it with the athletes, the coaches and parents and lets them know what areas his clients can improve on like jumping, throwing, running or working on strengthening a specific muscle.
 
“The technology we use lets  me develop a program for that kid specifically,” Desselle said. “It’s specialized.
 
“Everything that we do here is tracked. I tell all my athletes, coaches and parents, If you aren’t tracking and collecting data while you are training, you are just working out.  We are going to track everything and we have goals to get better. We sit down monthly and we go over the data and performance plans.”
 
Desselle said over the summer he had trained more than 200 athletes per day three days per week. He also travels to Lone Jack High School three days a week to work with their athletes for three hours per day.
 
On the physical therapy side, Hargrave has had so many athletes come in for treatment, that he has to book some appointments several weeks out, so that’s why the duo hired another physical therapist, Kelly Partington, to assist.
 
Hargrave said he works with athletes who are rehabbing from an injury or who just had surgery. He also does preseason and postseason screens for some local sports teams and spots areas of weakness or potential parts of someone’s body that is susceptible to injury.
 
“We can look at these different kids and be proactive,” Hargrave said. “You have a kid that is susceptible to injury because they will have a certain part of their body that is weak or unstable.
 
If we can catch them early, and get them in a program early that they can work on, we can help reduce their chance of getting injured. We have done some work with the Grain Valley basketball team, some with the football, baseball and softball teams. We are able to get these kids in a program early because they score low on these screens.”
 
“Some parents and athletes have aspirations to play sports at the college level and get a scholarship. If they get hurt, the chance for that opportunity goes down. Not getting hurt is sometimes your best ally.”
 
Desselle and Hargrave said they are proud of how far their business has some so far and they don’t plan on stopping any time soon. Hargrave said they hope to offer athletic training services sometime in the near future.
 
For now, they just want to serve the community and help as many athletes as they can.
 
“I want to train as many kids as I can and give back to the community,” Desselle said. “We want to be a place where every school, every teacher and every coach is comfortable sending their kids to for high level training and treatment.”
 
To inquire about the services of Upward Performance & Physical Therapy, Desselle can be reached at [email protected] and Hargrave at [email protected]. You can also reach them by phone at 816-268-2707.

The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Board of Directors adopted an update to Connected KC 2050, the region’s long-range transportation plan, at its June 24 meeting. The plan outlines strategies for managing and improving the Kansas City region’s transportation system over the next 25 years.

The two-year planning process included collaboration with federal and state transportation departments, public transit providers, local governments and community organizations. The updated plan introduces a new housing goal, strategies for housing coordination and digital connectivity, and revised forecasts for regional growth through 2050. It also identifies challenges the region will need to address, including identifying new resources to strengthen the public transportation services that support important economic and environmental goals.

The full plan is available at ConnectedKC.org.

“This plan update reflects the input of communities across the region and helps ensure that future investments align with local priorities and regional goals,” said Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick, MARC Chair. “It embodies the values of our communities and the need for a safer, prosperous and more connected future.”

As the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for the Kansas City region, MARC is responsible for developing and maintaining a long-range transportation plan to guide federal investments across a 30-year horizon.
​

by Phil Hanson, President & CEO, Truman Heartland Community Foundation
 
The Truman Heartland Community Foundation Board of Directors, in September of 2024, committed to move forward with an initiative to address Affordable Housing in our Eastern Jackson County community.

The data that compelled the board to make this decision indicated that 22% of households in our region are housing cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their household income on housing. And 9% of households are severely cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 50% of their household income on housing.

The Jackson County Health Department identified Affordable Housing as the third-highest rated overall community health concern in its latest community health survey.

No doubt, there is someone in your family or network of friends who is struggling to obtain affordable housing. We have new teachers, nurses, police officers, and other public servants who are unable to afford housing in the community they serve. We know this is not a local issue but one common to most communities in the United States; however, we believe the solution to this challenge will be local.

One new tool that we have created to address this challenge is our “Community First Loan Fund”. This fund, valued at approximately $900,000, is available for projects that address the affordable housing challenge in our community. It’s available for both nonprofits and private companies. We recently made our first loan from this fund to Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity. They are rehabbing a house that was donated to them in Raytown, and we are providing a short-term construction loan that will be repaid when they sell the newly renovated home.   

This new tool is what is often referred to as “Mission Related Investing”.  Yes, it’s an investment of the foundation, and it helps us achieve our mission of “Improving Area Communities”. We are utilizing funds that came from our endowed funds, which provide the revenue for our annual competitive community grants process.

This money that was previously invested in our fixed income pool on Wall Street, is now invested here locally, on Main Street. This investment does not decrease the amount available for our annual competitive community grants program; it simply changes the source of revenue.

We look forward to making additional loans for affordable housing projects in our Eastern Jackson County community. If you know of someone working on an affordable housing project that I should talk with, please let me know or have them contact me.

I will share other aspects of our Affordable Housing Initiative in future articles. It’s a big challenge that will require multiple strategies and tools to make an impact, and our “Community First Loan Fund” is just one essential tool. I can be reached via email at [email protected].

A new initiative is set to transform child care affordability for working families in the Kansas City region. The Child Care Exchange program is designed to address the critical need for affordable child care options while supporting workforce recruitment and retention for employers.

With the governor’s support for including the program in the state budget, and its anticipated signing, the Child Care Exchange will be ready to launch as soon as funding becomes available. The program leverages cost-sharing among employees, employers, the state of Missouri (if eligible) and other potential local funding sources, ensuring families have access to high-quality child care.

MARC will support the exchange by connecting employers and child care providers to the exchange, continuing work to increase the number of child care options available all while supporting workforce attraction for employers and stabilizing the child care marketplace.

The key benefits of the program include:

• For employers: An easy and hassle-free way to support current and prospective employees with their child care needs.
• For families: Affordable child care supported by contributions from employers, government and other sources, simplifying enrollment at the provider of their choice.
• For child care providers: Consistent payment, stabilizing the child care marketplace.

“Research shows that a lack of affordable child care is a significant barrier for Kansas City area employers in recruiting and retaining employees. And, many families struggle to find quality child care options within their budget,” said Dr. Toni Sturdivant, director of the Early Learning and Head Start Department at MARC. “The Child Care Exchange program directly addresses these challenges, bringing relief to employers and working families alike. We are thankful to Gov. Kehoe for his leadership and support on this important issue.”

Upon the governor’s signing of the budget, MARC will initiate a community-wide effort to recruit participating businesses and child care providers.

Learn more about the Child Care Exchange program.

Missouri nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,700 jobs in May 2025, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point. Private industry employment increased by 3,600 jobs and government employment increased by 100 jobs. Over the year, there was an increase of 10,900 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025, and the unemployment rate increased by three-tenths of a percentage point, from 3.7 percent in May 2024 to 4 percent in May 2025.

EMPLOYMENT     
Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment was 3,002,300 in May 2025, up by 3,700 from the revised April 2025 figure. The April 2025 total was revised upward by 4,000 jobs from the preliminary estimate.

Goods-producing industries increased by 3,200 jobs over the month, with mining, logging, and construction gaining 2,200 jobs and manufacturing gaining 1,000 jobs. Private service-providing industries increased by 400 jobs between April 2025 and May 2025. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in trade, transportation, and utilities (2,000 jobs); leisure and hospitality (1,300 jobs); private education and health services (1,000 jobs); and financial activities (200 jobs). Employment decreased in professional and business services (-2,600 jobs); information (-1,100 jobs); and other services (-400 jobs). Total government employment increased by 100 jobs over the month, with an increase in local government (2,000 jobs) and decreases in state (-1,300 jobs) and federal government (-600 jobs).

Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 10,900 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025. The largest gains were in private education and health services (17,600 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (2,900 jobs;) and other services (1,200 jobs). Employment decreased in professional and business services (-4,800 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-4,300 jobs); information (-3,200 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-3,000 jobs); manufacturing (-600 jobs); and financial activities (-100 jobs). Government employment increased by 5,200 jobs over the year, with increases in local (4,600 jobs) and state government (2,200 jobs) and a decrease in federal government (-1,600 jobs).

UNEMPLOYMENT    
Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point in May 2025, rising to 4 percent from the revised April 2025 rate of 3.9 percent. The May 2025 rate was three-tenths of a percentage point higher than the May 2024 rate of 3.7 percent. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 125,042 in May 2025, up by 944 from the revised April total of 124,098.

The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased in May 2025 by one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.9 percent from the April 2025 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 3.8 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 3.7 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for May 2025 was 4 percent.

Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.4 percent in May 2025, one point higher than the national rate of 62.4 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 60.9 percent in May 2025, 1.2 percentage points higher than the national rate of 59.7 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 4 percent in May 2025, two-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.2 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than 10 years.
​

The Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce (GVCC) welcomed one new business last week, and will welcome a new downtown restaurant on Saturday, May 31st.

GVCC welcomed EquipmentShare to Grain Valley with a ribbon cutting during the company's grand opening celebration on May 21st. At nearly 49,000 square feet, the new Grain Valley facility is EquipmentShare’s Advanced Solutions flagship store for Missouri and the Midwest. The site includes service bays, a paint room, a dedicated training hub and secure “hard down” zones for large equipment like semis. This branch will also serve as a distribution center to support regional Core Solutions branches and mobilize resources for major builds, disaster response and critical infrastructure projects.

​GVCC will welcome The Local Table and Bar to Grain Valley on Saturday, May 31st with a ribbon cutting scheduled for 11:00am. The Local Table and Bar is a new restaurant and bar for the downtown area located at 511 Main. The restaurant will open to the public on June 2nd from 11:00am - 11:00pm.
​

St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs has announced Dr. Karl Metzger is now serving as its Chief Medical Officer (CMO).  Metzger – a Hospitalist at St. Mary’ s – replaces previous CMO Cardiologist Dr. Michael Liston, who will continue to focus on his patients at Kansas City Cardiology.
 
Dr. Metzger brings a wealth of knowledge to the position, to include a background which includes Business Operations, Engineering, and Military Service.  Metzger previously served as a physician in the practices of Inpatient ICU, Outpatient Adult Medicine, Outpatient Pediatric Medicine, Women’s Health, and Palliative Care before becoming a Hospitalist.
 
Following his service in the United State Marine Corp and the private sector, Metzger graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and was chosen as an American Boad of Family Medicine Pisacano Scholar.  He completed his residency at the University of South Florida School of Medicine, graduating with the BSM Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education and earning the AAFP Physicians With Heart Scholarship. 
 
When not pursuing his call to medicine, Metzger stays busy raising his growing family with his wife Jessica.  He also enjoys martial arts, trail running, and mountain biking.  Please join us in welcoming Dr. Metzger, CMO, to his new role.