NAICS 23

Construction in St. Joseph, MO

Metro Market Score 56.0 (Challenging), ranked #254 of 342 metros. 274 establishments, 2,702 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 56.0
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

💰High-Cost Market

St. Joseph scores 56.0 on the Metro Market Score for construction, placing it in the lower half. High wage costs, strong existing competition, or slowing growth contribute to tougher entry conditions compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
47.7
LQ: 0.95
Rank #163 of 342 metros
Wage Competitiveness
87.7
$85,615 avg wage
Growth Trend
44.7
Employment growth index
Rank #190 of 342 metros
Wage Pressure
27.9
YoY wage change index

274 Construction Firms in St. Joseph

274
Establishments
-5.2% YoY
2,702
Total Employment
+1.1% YoY
$85,615
Average Annual Wage
+2.0% YoY
0.95
Location Quotient
Below national avg

St. Joseph vs Missouri Statewide

How this metro's construction market compares to Missouri overall. The state ranks #43/51 for entry risk.

Measure St. Joseph MO Statewide
Overall Score 56.0 Challenging 54.6 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #254 of 342 metros #43 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in St. Joseph

Construction in Other Missouri Metros

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For St. Joseph's construction sector, the wage competitiveness component (87.7) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.