Industries and 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 500s to private ventures. Several key industries are consistently rich with opportunities.

• Health Care

  Some of Springfield’s biggest employers can be found in the healthcare industry, which employs approximately 18% of our total workforce.

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

• Headquarters and Business Services

  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 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, BKD, is headquartered in downtown Springfield, and the headquarters for the banking technology company, Jack Henry & Associates, is just outside of Springfield in nearby Monett. In addition, professional and business services in our region have shown 16% growth over the last five years and includes some of the major employers in Springfield.

• Manufacturing and Logistics Companies

  Since the low point of the recession, the Springfield manufacturing sector has bounced back with an impressive 13% 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 provide an additional 2,000-plus jobs.

  The city’s central location within the nation 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.

• Government

  Employing more than 28,000 people, government is our third-largest industry sector. The United States government, the City of Springfield, and Greene County are the 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, you’ll find Springfield like no other city, boasting a wide array of accomplishments and accreditations.

  • 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.
  • 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, the Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office Training Division.
  • The Springfield Police Department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, a designation that fewer than five percent of American law enforcement agencies have successfully attained.
  • Our Springfield-Greene County Park Board is a Gold Medal Award winner recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association.

• Small Business and Entrepreneurs

  Some of Springfield’s biggest companies are also its greatest entrepreneurial success stories. Bass Pro Shops, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Jack Henry 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 98% of our economy, small businesses of all kinds thrive in Springfield.