Nearly one in 10 people were out of work.
That's where we were in October of 2009. The national unemployment rate crested at 10 percent that month. Missouri's unemployment rate topped out in January of 2010, with 9.8 percent of Missourians out of work.
We've bounced back significantly since then. The national unemployment rate is now 3.5 percent, and Missouri is beating the national average, with an unemployment rate of only 3.1 percent. Our state has been outperforming the U.S. average since October of 2016. Missouri is seventh in the nation for small business wage growth and second nationally in the number of apprenticeships. This turnaround has taken a long time, but the job creation efforts by our state and national leaders is reaping benefits.
While it's great to see these jobs provide for the working families of Missouri, the focus is now shifting to training our young people for new and modern jobs. As technology continues to develop at a rapid pace, almost every profession needs workers experienced with cutting-edge technology.
In his State of the State address, the governor spoke about the Missouri One Start, ASPIRE MO and Fast-Track scholarship programs, all designed to develop our workforce and to keep Missouri as a national leader in the area of economic development.
Missouri One Start, a program approved by the Legislature last session, is now helping businesses train workers in new and emerging technology. Through the Department of Economic Development, employers are provided with customized training programs that allow companies flexibility to choose how that training is provided. This tailored training approach is available to small and large businesses alike. Employers get well-trained workers, and workers get skills that will benefit them throughout their careers.
The ASPIRE MO program, first implemented in 2019, is a 20-week program for offenders housed in the Women's Eastern Correctional Center. It's a pilot program to give offenders business and entrepreneurial skills to help them make the transition to being productive members of society.
In order to help our workers meet the demands of high tech work environments, the Fast-Track scholarship program provides grants to adults pursuing degrees, certificates or credentials in high-need areas. The goal is for 60 percent of working-age adults in this state to have a high quality certificate or degree by the year 2025.
Although we're proud of the growth here in the state, the Legislature is still working to bring new opportunities and developments to our state. This session, we're considering bills to encourage the development of our workforce in rural areas, provide innovative training in our elementary and secondary schools, encourage career and technical training to help recover those who have dropped out of high school and provide apprenticeship training.
I'm currently sponsoring a bill, Senate Bill 585, to help development of a port here in Jefferson City to provide new jobs and economic opportunity in our community. It is my sincere hope these efforts continue to grow and strengthen the economy of our state.
It is an honor to serve the people of the 6th Senatorial District. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.
State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, represents Missouri's 6th Senate District, and shares his perspective on statehouse issues twice a month.