Buchanan County unemployment rate drops; Missouri Job Center connects workers, employers

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Within a year, Buchanan County's unemployment rate has decreased due to a number of factors.

According to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the county unemployment rate was 4.4% in January 2025 and fell to 3.2% by December 2025.

Brent Stevens, the executive director of the Workforce Development Board in North Missouri, said the Missouri Job Center in St. Joseph is available to connect job seekers and employers.

"Our main goal is to make that connection and ensure that everybody who wants a job is connected to quality employers in the area, as well as employers to quality job seekers," he said.

All the services at the job center are free of charge, since it's taxpayer-funded. The center offers local training for area jobs.

Stevens said they try to assess the needs of the job seekers when they visit the job center.

"We do a basic assessment to see where the job seekers' needs are, what their barriers to employment are, because we know everybody's a little different in their job search," Stevens said. "We start with some individuals with the basics, and some people are employable right off the bat. We work to get them connected with my employer and get a foot in the door there."

The job center even assists the youth with finding their first job.

"We have a youth program that is for individuals aged 16 to 24 with the barrier to employment," he said. "There are a lot of things that come as a barrier, but that program focuses on is really the first job, or a second job, or moving into a career pathway to make sure that they're on the track to get a sustainable wage."

The job center is looking to continue to bring down the total unemployment number in the county. In doing so, the center offers resources.

"We know employers need people working, and there are individuals who may have been discouraged enough that they're not looking for work anymore. Our goal is to find a way to get them back in the labor force if it's right for them, and get them a quality job, and show them that there are opportunities here in this local area," Stevens said.

The Missouri Job Center is located at 2202 Frederick Ave. The center accepts walk-ins, and appointments can also be scheduled.