About Bolivar's Workforce
Polk County is part of the 7-county Ozark Region Workforce Development Area, as well as the 5-county Springfield Metro Statistical Area (MSA). The Ozark Region is comprised of Polk, Dallas, Greene, Christian, Webster, Stone and Taney counties. We also gain commuters from Cedar, Dade, St. Clair and Hickory counties to the west and north of Polk County.
For a report from MERIC on the 2021 Economic and Workforce Report for Polk County, click here.
Data for labor supply and demand for this report is determined by comparing online job ads and job seeker data in each region.
To learn more about Unemployment and Labor Force data for Polk County, click here.
Bolivar is one of over 85 Missouri communities that are a Certified ACT Work Ready Community. Pleasant Hope in southeastern Polk County also has earned this designation. According to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, the Work Ready Community Initiative empowers counties across the United States to identify skill gaps and quantify the skill level of its workforce. This helps educators build career pathways aligned with the needs of businesses and industries.
Bolivar High School takes pride in its new BOMO Works Program, as well as several other workforce development programs, such as Culinary Arts, Automotive Technology, CNA certification classes, EMT classes, Education and more.
Education
K-12 Education:
- K-12 Education
- Bolivar R-1 School District
- Polk County Christian School
- Preschools – Early Childhood Development Center (R-1), PCCS preschool, Zion Christian Preschool, B.U.M. Kids and two OACAC centers
Secondary Education:
- Bolivar Technical College
- Southwest Baptist University
- Missouri State University, Drury University, Evangel University and others in Springfield
Trade Schools:
- Midwest Technical Institute
- Iron Eagle Welding Academy
- Missouri Welding Institute
- Ozarks Technical Community College
Missouri OneStart
Missouri One Start is the leader in pre-employment services, workforce recruitment and customized training and provides these services at no cost to eligible businesses.
It offers:
- Tailored workforce strategy in pre-employment services
- Workforce recruitment
- Job-specific training both during and after the onboarding process
For more information, contact Gail Noggle at [email protected].
Workforce Data
Polk County Average Wages
All Industries, Private ownership only
- Avg. Hourly Wage: $19.42 (2022)
- Polk County Annually: $40,387 (2022)
All Industries, Private and Public ownership
- Avg. Hourly Wage: $20.96 (2022)
- Avg. Annual Wages: $43,594 (2022)
Cost of Living Index: 88.3% (3rd quarter, 2023) State of Missouri; down from 90.1% from the prior year
Polk County, June 2022
- Manufacturing Employment: 1,212
- Weekly Average Wage: $881
- Non-manufacturing Employment: 5,667
- Weekly Average Wage: $737
Labor Force & Unemployment Data
As of 10/01/2023
Source: MO Economic Research and Information Center
Source: MO Economic Research and Information Center
