We Mean Business. Illinois Business.
 
 

Illinois residents lining up to go to work in Missouri
By ALAN J. ORTBALS

   The number of Illinois residents working in Missouri nearly tripled between 1990 and 2000, according to figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Experts predict that the trend will continue into the foreseeable future.

   According to the IDES, more than 71,000 Illinois residents were commuting to Missouri for their jobs in the year 2000, up from a little over 28,000 in 1990.

   Sean Flower, president of American Heritage Homes, says he thinks a lot of this phenomenon is being driven by Missourians moving to Illinois.

   "We're seeing a lot, especially in our close-in communities like Columbia where you have a lot of people from South County who are making the jump," Flower said. "They're still keeping their jobs in Missouri, but they're beginning to look at it as just traveling to St. Louis - the same as if they lived out in St. Charles or another area." Bill Burke, principal for planning and landscape architecture with Arcturis, points to factors that are driving this migration.

   "I think there are people from Missouri who are seeking housing opportunities in Illinois because of the cost of living in Illinois; property values in Illinois; and how far a dollar will go in Illinois in relationship to real estate is very attractive," Burke said. "I also think that Illinois has excellent school districts and that's very attractive as well."

   Burke, however, also sees another force at work. In 1970, one-third of all jobs in Madison County were in manufacturing, according to Burke; now that number is down to one-sixth. He says as manufacturers have downsized, these workers have sought similar employment in Missouri rather than taking a lesser-paying job in Illinois.

   Richard Ward, chief executive officer and founder of Development Strategies Inc., says the migration pattern is a natural progression.

   "I think this is driven primarily by the new residential construction that you've seen in the Metro East and that brings new labor force, but there hasn't been a corresponding gain in employment - businesses employing people," said Ward. "So these people are basically commuting to work in St. Louis County and St. Louis City. That would be a normal progression. That certainly has happened in St. Charles County, Mo., the most rapidly growing area of the region. It's seen strong residential growth for three decades and now finally, with the labor force grown up out there, you're seeing employment growth begin to move out to take advantage of it. The population growth is first and the employment growth is second in a framed suburban location like that," he added.

   The region can expect this trend to continue for some time, Ward said, and jobs to follow.

   "I would say that by the end of this decade you will see employment begin to grow to take advantage of the labor market in Illinois," Ward said. "That's the normal progression. The more housing you build, the more labor market you build. Those people have to commute distances to work. After awhile the employers figure it out and say, 'Let's be there and take advantage of the labor market. Those people are tired of crossing the river everyday. Let's take jobs to them.'"

   While Illinois has been building a great highway infrastructure in Southwestern Illinois, the commute across the river is becoming more difficult all the time due to more traffic and fewer lanes. The planned new Mississippi River Bridge becomes crucial - not just for Illinois but for Missouri as well, according to Burke.

   "I think the state of Missouri has a tremendous amount at stake," he said. "If it wants to continue to rebuild downtown St. Louis, that bridge is part of it for a lot of different reasons. One is that there are a lot of Illinoisans who work there now. Someday when businesses make the choice to stay downtown or move elsewhere when they need to relocate or need more space, that's going to be a factor in their decision."

   Another reason, according to Burke, is that although downtown St. Louis is currently experiencing a residential boom of its own, the market is being driven by young singles who will probably leave to raise a family.

   "Downtown St. Louis is a lot more dependent on Illinois than what it owns up to," said Burke.

   Flower doesn't understand why it would be any different for someone to drive across the Missouri River at St. Charles than it would be to cross the Mississippi River.

   "It's really more how we look at it traditionally than realistically," he said. "Illinois is closer; it's easier to get to the same places. There's no reason that the state line has to be any different than a county line. You don't have to change your whole lifestyle to live in Illinois."