Population
and Labor Force
The
population of St. Francois County has grown consistently during
the past 40 years as the County made the transition from an
economy largely dependent on mining and agriculture to a much
broader and more diverse economic base.
During the period from 1960 to 2000, the population of
the County increased over 36%, with much of the growth
concentrated in the County’s incorporated communities. The
County’s population grew 13.8% during the decade from 1990 to
2000, increasing from 48,904 in 1990, to 55,641 in 2000.
From a business perspective it is important to note that a
significant segment of the County’s population (51.5%) is in
the very productive 18-54 year age group. Children in the 0-17 year age group make up another 23.9% of
the County’s population, assuring a work force for the future.
Over
61% of the population of St. Francois County reside in the
County’s eight incorporated communities as indicated in the
table below. The
City of Desloge grew 15.7% during the last decade, while the
City of Farmington, which is also the County seat,
posted a 20.1% increase.
Populations of
Incorporated
Communities in St. Francois
County, 2000
|
Bismarck
|
1,470
|
|
Iron
Mountain Lake
|
693
|
|
Bonne
Terre
|
4,039
|
|
Leadington
|
206
|
|
Desloge
|
4,802
|
|
Leadwood
|
1,160
|
|
Farmington
|
13,924
|
|
Park
Hills
|
7,861
|
As
the population of St. Francois County has increased, so also has
the size of the County’s labor force.
During the period from 1991 to 2001, the County’s labor
force grew from 22,181 to 23,312, an increase of 4.9%.
At the same time, the County’s unemployment rate
dropped from 10.0% in 1991 to 6.7% in 2001.
Workforce Information
The
rich mining heritage of St. Francois County is still reflected in
the “day’s work for a day’s pay” attitude of the
County’s workforce. Industries
and businesses locating in the County will find an average
available work force of about 5,100 people in St. Francois County.
Encompassing surrounding counties, this available work
force is increased to over 9,000 people.
More important, this labor force represents experienced
workers who have training in a wide variety of skills and
occupations. Listed
in the table below are the occupational backgrounds of people
seeking employment through the Missouri Division of Employment
Security in November, 2002.
Occupations of Job
Applicants
St. Francois County -
November, 2002
|
Professional,
Technical and Managerial
|
785
|
|
Clerical
and Sales
|
1,100
|
|
Service
|
771
|
|
Agricultural,
Fishery, Forestry and Related Occupations
|
55
|
|
Processing
|
189
|
|
Machine
Trades
|
446
|
|
Benchwork
|
621
|
|
Structural
Work
|
660
|
|
Miscellaneous
Occupations
|
412
|
|
Unclassified
|
79
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
5,118
|
|
Source:
Missouri Department of Economic Development
|
For purposes of comparison with other areas, listed below are wage
rates for a group of selected occupations in the Missouri
Department of Economic Development’s Southeast Region, which
includes St. Francois County.
Wage rates for a comprehensive listing of occupations is
available at http://www.greathires.org
Wage Rates in Selected
Occupations
|
occupational
title
|
low
|
average
|
high
|
|
Accountants and Auditors
|
10.37
|
14.72
|
17.43
|
|
All Other Assemblers, Fabricators
|
6.49
|
7.67
|
8.66
|
|
Billing, Costs and Rate Clerks
|
7.47
|
8.93
|
10.02
|
|
Bookkeeping and Account and Auditing
|
6.90
|
8.90
|
10.41
|
|
Budget Analysts
|
16.05
|
19.44
|
21.63
|
|
Civil Engineering Technicians
|
12.78
|
15.11
|
14.15
|
|
Civil Engineers, including Traffic
|
18.92
|
22.55
|
26.34
|
|
Communication, Transp. Utility
Manager
|
15.94
|
18.65
|
20.61
|
|
Computer Programmers
|
17.35
|
19.80
|
22.21
|
|
Cost Estimators
|
11.83
|
17.50
|
20.98
|
|
Custom Tailors and Sewers
|
6.20
|
7.10
|
8.06
|
|
Data Base Administrators
|
11.62
|
20.21
|
22.46
|
|
Data Entry Keyers, ex. Composing
|
6.85
|
7.54
|
8.23
|
|
Drafters
|
12.24
|
14.96
|
17.27
|
|
Electrical and Electronic Engineer
|
17.10
|
24.36
|
33.86
|
|
Electrical and Electronic Technician
|
12.87
|
17.70
|
22.35
|
|
Electricians
|
7.55
|
13.30
|
17.65
|
|
Employment Interviewers
|
7.22
|
10.95
|
11.15
|
|
Financial Managers
|
11.53
|
19.52
|
24.62
|
|
First Line Supervisor, Production
|
11.28
|
16.24
|
19.66
|
|
First Line Supervisor,
Transportation
|
10.41
|
14.15
|
17.30
|
|
First Line Supervisor, Sales
|
8.99
|
13.34
|
16.14
|
|
First Line Supervisors, Clerical
|
9.23
|
12.78
|
14.71
|
|
General Managers and Top Executives
|
13.75
|
24.81
|
35.91
|
|
General Office Clerks
|
6.07
|
7.67
|
8.58
|
|
Industrial Engineers, Exc. Safety
|
17.10
|
22.26
|
24.65
|
|
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
|
11.31
|
13.49
|
15.53
|
|
Industrial Production Managers
|
14.09
|
21.40
|
25.12
|
|
Industrial Truck and Tractor
Operator
|
7.65
|
10.89
|
12.41
|
|
Inspectors and Compliance Officers
|
11.36
|
14.80
|
15.62
|
|
Inspectors, Tester, Graders,
Precision
|
7.52
|
11.20
|
14.52
|
|
Lathe, Turning Machine Setter/Op.
M/P
|
7.16
|
8.30
|
9.30
|
|
Machinists
|
8.68
|
11.09
|
12.98
|
|
Management Analysts
|
13.18
|
23.18
|
33.87
|
|
Marketing, Advertising, Public
Relations Mgr.
|
14.04
|
22.84
|
27.23
|
|
Mechanical Engineers
|
19.52
|
24.91
|
33.95
|
|
Order Clerks: Materials, Service
|
7.23
|
8.76
|
9.89
|
|
Order Filers, Sales
|
10.90
|
12.13
|
13.59
|
|
Personnel Clerks, Exc. Payroll
|
8.18
|
10.25
|
12.17
|
|
Production Inspectors, Graders
|
6.86
|
8.86
|
10.67
|
|
Production, Expediting Clerks
|
7.34
|
10.68
|
12.64
|
|
Purchasing Managers
|
10.75
|
19.05
|
23.64
|
|
Sheet Metal Workers
|
8.75
|
12.64
|
16.09
|
|
Systems Analyst
|
12.29
|
21.51
|
22.38
|
|
Tool and Die Makers
|
11.63
|
16.64
|
22.38
|
|
Traffic, Shipping and Receiving
Clerks
|
7.61
|
11.47
|
15.25
|
|
Truck Drivers, Heavy
|
9.77
|
12.81
|
15.44
|
|
Typists and Word Processors
|
6.80
|
8.56
|
9.96
|
|
Welders and Cutters
|
8.05
|
9.95
|
11.50
|
|
Source:
Missouri Department of Economic Development,
Occupational Survey, 1998-1999.
|
Educational levels of job applicants from St. Francois County also
tend to be high. Of
the St. Francois County residents currently seeking employment
through the Missouri Division of Employment Security, 63.8% have
earned their high school diploma or GED,
6.8% have completed one year of college, 7.1% have
completed two years of college, 1.5% have completed three years of
college, 3.2% hold BA/BS degrees, 0.6% hold Masters degrees and
0.1% have completed their doctorate.
Top quality educational systems are in place and available in St.
Francois County to provide education and training in virtually any
area an employer could require. In-plant job training
programs are also available to facilitate rapid training and
retraining of workers to meet new job demands.
|
