Springfield’s Core Industries & Leading Employers

Professionals in nearly any industry can find rewarding employment in Springfield. Our robust economy has made Springfield and the surrounding region an attractive environment for a diverse spectrum of businesses from Fortune 500 companies to private ventures. Several key industries including engineering, architecture, healthcare, information technology (IT) and more are consistently rich with opportunities.

Explore Top Employers by Industry

Rewarding Opportunities for Healthcare Professionals

Some of Springfield’s biggest employers can be found in the healthcare industry, which employs approximately 17% of the metro area’s total workforce.

With two premier U.S. health networks, CoxHealth and Mercy, healthcare employs more than 30,000 people in and around Springfield at area hospitals, clinics and specialty care facilities. Both health systems recently completed construction projects totaling more than $375 million, creating the need for additional physicians and healthcare staff of all varieties.

Springfield is a regional medical center with four major health providers—CoxHealth, Mercy, Ozarks Community Hospital and Jordan Valley Community Health Center. Learn more about healthcare in Springfield.

An Epicenter for Business & Commerce

The Springfield area is home to two well-known retail giants. Bass Pro Shops, one of America’s largest privately held companies, and Fortune 500 company O’Reilly Auto Parts are both headquartered here, employing nearly 4,000 people in everything from sales to operations.

One of the largest accounting firms in the country, FORVIS, is also headquartered in downtown Springfield, and the headquarters for banking technology company Jack Henry & Associates is just outside Springfield in nearby Monett. Professional and business services in our region, which include some of Springfield’s major employers, have shown 34% growth over the last 10 years.

A Central Hub for U.S. Shipping & Freight

Since the low point of the recession, the Springfield manufacturing sector has bounced back with an impressive 33% job growth. World-famous Springfield Remanufacturing Corporation (the subject of many business case studies for its pioneering success with open-book management) is headquartered here with a workforce of approximately 1,000.

Kraft Foods, 3M, John Deere Remanufacturing, Loren Cook Company and Paul Mueller are other key manufacturers with operations that employ more than 2,000 people.

The city’s central U.S. location also makes it a cost-effective location for shipping and transport services. Prime Inc., headquartered in Springfield, is North America’s most successful refrigerated, flatbed and tanker carrier. 

SRC Logistics provides a broad range of services, including public and contract warehousing, non-asset-based transportation management, fulfillment, distribution and reverse logistics. Phoenix International, with locations in Springfield, Kansas City and St. Louis, is the largest privately owned, full-service international freight forwarder.

Our Wide Spectrum of City Government Opportunities

Employing more than 30,000 people, government is our third-largest industry sector. The United States government, City of Springfield and Greene County are major employers, providing a wide range of jobs from administrative and actuarial positions to arborists and electrical engineers. From police, fire and emergency management to public works, environmental services and parks personnel, you’ll find Springfield like no other city, boasting a wide array of accomplishments and accreditations.

Outstanding City Utilities

City Utilities, Springfield’s municipally owned utility company, is recognized by the American Public Power Association (APPA) as a top utility system that has enhanced the prestige of public power systems through sustained achievement and customer service.

Top-Notch EMS Services

Springfield-Greene County’s emergency management program, housed at the Public Safety Center, is nationally accredited by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program. Greene County’s Public Safety Center was built to FEMA 361 Standards, withstanding winds of up to 250 mph. It is home to the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management, Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center and Greene County Sheriff’s Office Training Division.

Excellent City Security

The Springfield Police Department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies—a designation that fewer than 5% of American law enforcement agencies have successfully attained.

Award-Winning Park Board

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board is a Gold Medal Award winner recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association. With over 3,200 acres and 105 sites, ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to multi-use recreational facilities and natural resource areas, there are many opportunities to find a rewarding career with the Park Board.

Growth-Oriented Business Ventures

Some of Springfield’s biggest companies are also its greatest entrepreneurial success stories. Bass Pro Shops, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Jack Henry & Associates were all once small upstarts that found their path to growth in this region. 

Today, new ventures like Mother’s Brewing Company, one of the fastest growing craft breweries in the country; Askinosie Chocolate, a gourmet chocolate company quickly becoming nationally known; and Duck Creek Technologies, recently purchased by Accenture, are finding the right mix for success here as well. 

Making up more than 95% of our economy, small businesses of all kinds thrive in Springfield. Entrepreneurs and startups in Springfield also have access to impressive coworking spaces like the eFactory and Cast.

 

A Leading City for Academic Progress

Springfield employs thousands of teachers, coaches, administrators and staff members at public and private schools and colleges throughout the area. Springfield Public Schools and Missouri State University—the region’s two largest educational employers—have more than 6,400 employees combined. 

In fact, SPS is Missouri’s largest accredited school district with 50-plus schools serving more than 25,000 students. Hundreds more work at Drury University, Evangel University and Ozarks Technical Community College. If you’ve chosen a career in education, the Springfield area offers an abundance of employment opportunities. What are you waiting for? Check out the current openings at SPS, MSU, Drury and OTC.