Bridging the Workforce Gap: What the 2025 St. Louis Report Means for Leaders and How We Can Respond
By Dr. Brenda Bouse, CEO of The Quality Coach®
Each year, the State of the St. Louis Workforce Report gives us a powerful mirror which provides a snapshot of how our region is doing when it comes to talent, training, and the trends shaping tomorrow’s economy. The 2025 edition, published by the St. Louis Business Journal in partnership with St. Louis Community College, is no exception.
This year’s report shines the spotlight on critical areas of opportunity.
Across industries, employers continue to struggle with labor shortages, retention challenges, skills mismatches, and the need to rapidly upskill managers and frontline leaders. The report highlights what many of us are feeling on the ground: our region is brimming with potential. Unlocking that potential will require intentional investment in leadership, culture, and people development.
Today’s St. Louis employers aren’t just looking outside for skill, they’re growing it from within. The 2025 State of the St. Louis Workforce Report reveals that 65% of employers are hiring less experienced candidates and training them on the job—a 6-point increase from just last year.
This shift signals a growing recognition:
· External hires alone won’t meet skill and readiness demands.
· Leadership depth within becomes a strategic necessity.
· Programs focused on communication, coaching, and accountability aren’t optional as they are considered mission-critical.
🔍 Key Findings That Deserve Our Attention
The 2025 report reveals:
- Leadership Gaps Are Growing – Employers are citing a lack of soft skills, people management ability, and readiness for advancement as barriers to internal promotion.
- Retention is at Risk – Disengagement and burnout are on the rise, particularly among mid-level supervisors who often feel stuck in the middle.
- Upskilling is Urgent – Companies that provide leadership development, coaching, and mentoring see stronger pipelines and greater engagement.
- Younger Workers Crave Growth – Gen Z and Millennial employees are more likely to stay where they feel coached, challenged, and seen.
These are not just trends but rather calls to action.
💡 How The Quality Coach® Is Responding
At The Quality Coach®, we design and deliver leadership development experiences that respond directly to these realities.
Our LD1.0 program is a foundational leadership series designed for new and emerging leaders equipping participants with the critical communication, coaching, accountability, and emotional intelligence skills that today’s workplaces require. We combine:
- DISC Behavioral Assessments
- 1:1 Coaching
- Peer Learning
- Capstone Projects
- Leadership Alignment with your company’s mission and values
But it’s not just about skill-building. It’s about culture-building. We help teams build trust, increase collaboration, and retain the very people they’ve worked so hard to hire.
🔄 Building Stronger Leaders = Building a Stronger Workforce
The workforce challenges highlighted in the 2025 report won’t be solved with quick fixes or one-off trainings. It takes long-term thinking, intentional leadership, and a willingness to grow from within.
📞 Let’s Talk Strategy
If you're feeling the weight of workforce change or sense that your leadership team could use renewed direction and development you’re not alone.
Let’s talk about how we can strengthen your team from the inside out.
👉 Reach out to explore LD1.0, our coaching bundles, or a custom leadership development strategy tailored to your workforce.
Together, we can build better people practices for better business outcomes. For a full listing of all TQC programs and offerings visit our program offerings here