Counties in Missouri by business establishments (QCEW)

St. Louis County had the highest business establishments (QCEW) of 115 counties in 2016, at 36,332. Worth County had the lowest, at 67. The median was 510 and the figure for Missouri was 194,161. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest36,332St. Louis County
Lowest67Worth County
Median510115 counties
Missouri194,161History

Map of counties, 2016

Adair County: 696 countAndrew County: 314 countAtchison County: 234 countAudrain County: 643 countBarry County: 855 countBarton County: 320 countBates County: 439 countBenton County: 510 countBollinger County: 296 countBoone County: 4,851 countBuchanan County: 2,528 countButler County: 1,534 countCaldwell County: 212 countCallaway County: 837 countCamden County: 1,638 countCape Girardeau County: 2,625 countCarroll County: 317 countCarter County: 220 countCass County: 2,082 countCedar County: 353 countChariton County: 282 countChristian County: 1,845 countClark County: 169 countClay County: 5,522 countClinton County: 458 countCole County: 2,362 countCooper County: 463 countCrawford County: 669 countDade County: 176 countDallas County: 295 countDaviess County: 205 countDeKalb County: 258 countDent County: 547 countDouglas County: 206 countDunklin County: 1,563 countFranklin County: 2,897 countGasconade County: 475 countGentry County: 233 countGreene County: 8,516 countGrundy County: 308 countHarrison County: 297 countHenry County: 672 countHickory County: 174 countHolt County: 186 countHoward County: 247 countHowell County: 1,227 countIron County: 471 countJackson County: 20,976 countJasper County: 3,351 countJefferson County: 4,174 countJohnson County: 1,107 countKnox County: 119 countLaclede County: 839 countLafayette County: 862 countLawrence County: 861 countLewis County: 228 countLincoln County: 985 countLinn County: 386 countLivingston County: 488 countMcDonald County: 403 countMacon County: 424 countMadison County: 382 countMaries County: 157 countMarion County: 933 countMercer County: 104 countMiller County: 603 countMississippi County: 525 countMoniteau County: 359 countMonroe County: 253 countMontgomery County: 330 countMorgan County: 520 countNew Madrid County: 674 countNewton County: 1,239 countNodaway County: 557 countOregon County: 258 countOsage County: 288 countOzark County: 219 countPemiscot County: 763 countPerry County: 560 countPettis County: 1,189 countPhelps County: 1,180 countPike County: 481 countPlatte County: 2,640 countPolk County: 666 countPulaski County: 834 countPutnam County: 129 countRalls County: 223 countRandolph County: 668 countRay County: 423 countReynolds County: 320 countRipley County: 500 countSt. Charles County: 9,038 countSt. Clair County: 203 countSte. Genevieve County: 476 countSt. Francois County: 1,813 countSt. Louis County: 36,332 countSaline County: 624 countSchuyler County: 96 countScotland County: 151 countScott County: 1,413 countShannon County: 229 countShelby County: 208 countStoddard County: 1,022 countStone County: 737 countSullivan County: 165 countTaney County: 1,913 countTexas County: 608 countVernon County: 633 countWarren County: 634 countWashington County: 821 countWayne County: 491 countWebster County: 706 countWorth County: 67 countWright County: 488 countSt. Louis city: 13,258 count
  • Under 200
  • 200 to 300
  • 300 to 500
  • 500 to 700
  • 700 to 1,600
  • 1,600 and over
count, 2016. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2016

St. Louis County: 36,332 countSt. Louis County36,332Jackson County: 20,976 countJackson County20,976St. Louis city: 13,258 countSt. Louis city13,258St. Charles County: 9,038 countSt. Charles County9,038Greene County: 8,516 countGreene County8,516Clay County: 5,522 countClay County5,522Boone County: 4,851 countBoone County4,851Jefferson County: 4,174 countJefferson County4,174Jasper County: 3,351 countJasper County3,351Franklin County: 2,897 countFranklin County2,897Platte County: 2,640 countPlatte County2,640Cape Girardeau County: 2,625 countCape Girardeau County2,625Buchanan County: 2,528 countBuchanan County2,528Cole County: 2,362 countCole County2,362Cass County: 2,082 countCass County2,082Taney County: 1,913 countTaney County1,913Christian County: 1,845 countChristian County1,845St. Francois County: 1,813 countSt. Francois County1,813Camden County: 1,638 countCamden County1,638Dunklin County: 1,563 countDunklin County1,563Butler County: 1,534 countButler County1,534Scott County: 1,413 countScott County1,413Newton County: 1,239 countNewton County1,239Howell County: 1,227 countHowell County1,227Pettis County: 1,189 countPettis County1,189Phelps County: 1,180 countPhelps County1,180Johnson County: 1,107 countJohnson County1,107Stoddard County: 1,022 countStoddard County1,022Lincoln County: 985 countLincoln County985Marion County: 933 countMarion County933Lafayette County: 862 countLafayette County862Lawrence County: 861 countLawrence County861Barry County: 855 countBarry County855Laclede County: 839 countLaclede County839Callaway County: 837 countCallaway County837Pulaski County: 834 countPulaski County834Washington County: 821 countWashington County821Pemiscot County: 763 countPemiscot County763Stone County: 737 countStone County737Webster County: 706 countWebster County706St. Louis County: 36,332 countSt. Louis County36,332Jackson County: 20,976 countJackson County20,976St. Louis city: 13,258 countSt. Louis city13,258St. Charles County: 9,038 countSt. Charles County9,038Greene County: 8,516 countGreene County8,516Clay County: 5,522 countClay County5,522Boone County: 4,851 countBoone County4,851Jefferson County: 4,174 countJefferson County4,174Jasper County: 3,351 countJasper County3,351Franklin County: 2,897 countFranklin County2,897Platte County: 2,640 countPlatte County2,640Cape Girardeau County: 2,625 countCape Girardeau County2,625Buchanan County: 2,528 countBuchanan County2,528Cole County: 2,362 countCole County2,362Cass County: 2,082 countCass County2,082Taney County: 1,913 countTaney County1,913Christian County: 1,845 countChristian County1,845St. Francois County: 1,813 countSt. Francois County1,813Camden County: 1,638 countCamden County1,638Dunklin County: 1,563 countDunklin County1,563Butler County: 1,534 countButler County1,534Scott County: 1,413 countScott County1,413Newton County: 1,239 countNewton County1,239Howell County: 1,227 countHowell County1,227Pettis County: 1,189 countPettis County1,189Phelps County: 1,180 countPhelps County1,180Johnson County: 1,107 countJohnson County1,107Stoddard County: 1,022 countStoddard County1,022Lincoln County: 985 countLincoln County985Marion County: 933 countMarion County933Lafayette County: 862 countLafayette County862Lawrence County: 861 countLawrence County861Barry County: 855 countBarry County855Laclede County: 839 countLaclede County839Callaway County: 837 countCallaway County837Pulaski County: 834 countPulaski County834Washington County: 821 countWashington County821Pemiscot County: 763 countPemiscot County763Stone County: 737 countStone County737Webster County: 706 countWebster County706
count. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2016
count
Change on 2015
1St. Louis County36,332+2.4%
2Jackson County20,976+1.1%
3St. Louis city13,258+6.9%
4St. Charles County9,038+1.6%
5Greene County8,516+0.9%
6Clay County5,522+2.3%
7Boone County4,851+0.1%
8Jefferson County4,174-0.4%
9Jasper County3,351+0.6%
10Franklin County2,897+1.4%
11Platte County2,640+1.2%
12Cape Girardeau County2,625-0.6%
13Buchanan County2,528-1.2%
14Cole County2,362-0.7%
15Cass County2,082+1.2%
16Taney County1,913-0.8%
17Christian County1,845+2.2%
18St. Francois County1,813+1.5%
19Camden County1,638+0.5%
20Dunklin County1,563-5%
21Butler County1,534-1.9%
22Scott County1,413-0.1%
23Newton County1,239-0.6%
24Howell County1,227+0.2%
25Pettis County1,189-1.8%
26Phelps County1,180-3%
27Johnson County1,107+0.6%
28Stoddard County1,022-1.5%
29Lincoln County985+1.3%
30Marion County933-2.8%
31Lafayette County8620%
32Lawrence County861+0.5%
33Barry County855-0.6%
34Laclede County839+1.6%
35Callaway County837-1.9%
36Pulaski County834-0.4%
37Washington County821-3.3%
38Pemiscot County763-2.2%
39Stone County737-0.4%
40Webster County706+2%
41Adair County696-0.6%
42New Madrid County674-2.2%
43Henry County672+1.1%
44Crawford County669-3.2%
45Randolph County668+3.1%
46Polk County666+2.3%
47Audrain County643-2%
48Warren County634+0.3%
49Vernon County633-1.2%
50Saline County624+0.5%
51Texas County608-3.2%
52Miller County603+1.9%
53Perry County560+2%
54Nodaway County557-1.2%
55Dent County547-1.8%
56Mississippi County525+3.3%
57Morgan County520-2.4%
58Benton County510-2.3%
59Ripley County500-0.8%
60Wayne County491-3.3%
61Livingston County488+1%
61Wright County488-0.6%
63Pike County481-1.2%
64Ste. Genevieve County476+1.5%
65Gasconade County475-0.2%
66Iron County471-1.1%
67Cooper County463+2.2%
68Clinton County4580%
69Bates County439-0.7%
70Macon County424+0.2%
71Ray County423+0.2%
72McDonald County403-1%
73Linn County386+0.3%
74Madison County382-2.8%
75Moniteau County359-2.7%
76Cedar County353-0.8%
77Montgomery County330+1.5%
78Barton County320-0.6%
78Reynolds County320-5%
80Carroll County317-0.9%
81Andrew County314-3.4%
82Grundy County308+0.3%
83Harrison County297-1.7%
84Bollinger County296-2%
85Dallas County295+2.4%
86Osage County288-3.7%
87Chariton County282-1.1%
88DeKalb County2580%
88Oregon County258-1.5%
90Monroe County253-4.2%
91Howard County247-1.2%
92Atchison County234+1.3%
93Gentry County233-2.9%
94Shannon County229+1.3%
95Lewis County228-6.2%
96Ralls County2230%
97Carter County220+4.8%
98Ozark County219+0.9%
99Caldwell County212-1.9%
100Shelby County208-2.8%
101Douglas County206+4%
102Daviess County205+2%
103St. Clair County203-2.4%
104Holt County1860%
105Dade County176-0.6%
106Hickory County174-2.2%
107Clark County169-1.7%
108Sullivan County165-1.2%
109Maries County1570%
110Scotland County151+0.7%
111Putnam County129-1.5%
112Knox County119-4%
113Mercer County104+5.1%
114Schuyler County96+3.2%
115Worth County67-5.6%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of establishments with jobs covered by unemployment insurance during the year, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. An establishment is a single place of business, such as a factory, store or office; a company with several locations has several.

Counts places of business, not firms: for firms use employer_firms. Changes in how large employers report their locations can move the count without any change in activity.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in Missouri by business establishments (QCEW), 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Missouri by business establishments (QCEW), 2016. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/missouri-counties?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in Missouri by business establishments (QCEW), 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/missouri-counties?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Missouri by business establishments (QCEW), 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/missouri-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_missouri_by_2016,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Missouri by business establishments (QCEW), 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/missouri-counties?period=2016. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Missouri by business establishments (QCEW), 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/missouri-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/missouri-counties?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest business establishments (QCEW)?

St. Louis County, with 36,332 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest business establishments (QCEW)?

Worth County, with 67 in 2016.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Business establishments (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in Missouri: more rankings