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Central Region News & Updates
Discover the latest insights and developments in workforce initiatives across the Central Workforce Development Region.
Missouri Adds 34,100 Jobs Over the Year as Unemployment Falls to 3.5%
Missouri added 2,100 jobs in August 2026 and 34,100 jobs over the year, while the unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent. See which industries gained jobs and what the latest data says about Missouri’s workforce.
A Move, a Job Search, and a New Chapter in Social Work for Antoinette Agosto
After a resume review at the Columbia Job Center, Antoinette Agosto used JVSG services to land a full-time social worker role with Good Shepherd Hospice in under a month.
A Janitorial Job Was All Jillian Knew. A Preschool Classroom Showed Her What She Wanted
high school senior with only janitorial work behind her, Jillian Boyles used the WIOA In-School Youth program to test a career in childcare, and turned a paid Work Experience at Tiger Tots into a real job.
A GED Wasn’t in Her Past. A Classroom Full of Kids Is Now Her Future. (Hannah’s Success Story)
Ashley built a career as a Certified Medical Assistant, then decided to go further. With support from WIOA Adult, EDA, and Healthy Blue, she earned her nursing degree and RN license, and now earns nearly $12 more per hour.
Missouri Education Agencies Partner with Google to Provide Free AI Training
Missouri is partnering with Google to expand free access to AI training, Google Career Certificates and education tools for job seekers, students and educators across the state.
A Move, a Job Search, and a New Chapter in Social Work for Antoinette Agosto
When veteran Eddie Agosto walked into the Columbia Job Center looking for direction, he found more than a resume review. Through the Jobs for Veterans State Grant program, he landed a role that puts his social work background to meaningful use.
Missouri Jobs Report: July 2026 — Nearly 30,000 Jobs Added Year-Over-Year as Unemployment Falls to 3.6%
Missouri added 8,100 jobs in July 2026, unemployment fell to 3.6 percent, and year-over-year job growth reached nearly 30,000 positions. Here’s a breakdown of the latest labor market data and what it means for workers and employers across mid-Missouri.
What Students Can Teach Us About Showing Up
Every August, students walk into buildings they have never been in before and agree to spend months learning things they do not yet understand. What if the rest of us did the same? Here is what students can teach us about showing up.
A Certified Medical Assistant, Ashley Wanted More. Nursing School Delivered It
Ashley built a career as a Certified Medical Assistant, then decided to go further. With support from WIOA Adult, EDA, and Healthy Blue, she earned her nursing degree and RN license, and now earns nearly $12 more per hour.
Keeoctea Hightower Wanted a Fresh Start. The Central Region Job Center Helped Her Find One
Veteran Keeoctea Hightower came to the Columbia Job Center for resume help and career guidance. With support from Wagner-Peyser and JVSG services, she landed full-time employment at a VA hospital.
Central Region Joins Local Partners At Lebanon Summer Outreach Event
Free community resources came together at the Lebanon YMCA this summer, with the Central Workforce Development Region on hand to connect attendees with job seeker services.
A Plant Closure Ended One Job for Keith Smith: A CDL Started Another
After Royal Canin’s Rolla plant closed and cost more than 100 jobs, Keith Smith turned to the WIOA Dislocated Worker program, earned his CDL, and launched a new career as a professional truck driver with TMC Transportation.
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Tune into The Podcast
Episode 77: The Brain Science Behind Getting Things Done at Work
Learn the brain science behind accountability at work. This Workforce Link Podcast episode explains why some employees excel and how all Missouri job seekers and employers can build stronger habits.
Episode 76:Career Shifts: When to Move On and How to Do It Well
Discover the three cognitive habits that make people more accountable and productive at work. Learn how neuroscience supports better team performance.
Episode 75: AI, Automation, and the Future of Work: How Technology Is Changing Jobs
Explore how AI and automation are transforming jobs—and how job seekers and employers can adapt.