Report: Springfield tops state in job, economic growth

The index is compiled by The Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners. Rankings are based on growth in jobs, wages and salaries, and the technology industry.

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area, with 420,020 residents, ranked No. 1 in Missouri and No. 42 among 200 metro U.S. cities, according to a news release from the Springfield Business & Development Corp. The city rose five spots from No. 47 last year and 35 spots from No. 77 in 2005. No data is available for 2006.

This is Springfield’s fourth year at the top in Missouri. Kansas City ranked third in the state and No. 77 nationally, St. Louis this year ranked fourth in the state and No. 152 nationally, and the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark., area, which also was considered a Missouri metro, ranked second in the state and No. 57 nationally.

Other Springfield rankings:

• No. 32 for job growth between 2002 and 2007;

• No. 27 for job growth between 2006 and 2007;

• No. 78 for wage and salary growth between 2001 and 2006;

• No. 150 for wage and salary growth between 2005 and 2006;

• No. 38 for high-technology sector growth between 2002 and 2007; and

• No. 54 for high-technology sector growth between 2006 and 2007.

The top 10 U.S. cities on the index were, in order: Provo-Orem, Utah; Raleigh-Cary, N.C.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Austin-Round Rock, Texas; Huntsville, Ala.; Wilmington, N.C.; McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas; Tacoma, Wash.; Olympia, Wash.; and Charleston-North Charleston-Summersville, S.C.

For the complete 2008 report, click here.