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Macon County, MO Economy

Unemployment was 4.2% in Aug 2026 and jobs paid $45,561 a year on average.

Unemployment rate
4.2%
-0.6 pts in a year
Labor force
6,118
+2.1% in a year
Income per person
$52,966
45th of 115 in MO
Average annual pay
$45,561
4,823 jobs, 2025

Unemployment rate in Macon County

Monthly. County rates are not seasonally adjusted, so they rise and fall with the seasons.

Macon CountyMissouri (seasonally adjusted)
Show as a table
PeriodMacon County
Aug 20264.2%
Dec 20253.9%
Dec 20244.1%
Dec 20233.7%
Dec 20223.1%
Dec 20212.8%
Dec 20205.0%
Dec 20193.6%
Dec 20183.8%
Dec 20173.6%
Dec 20164.8%
Dec 20154.7%
Dec 20146.0%
Dec 20136.2%
Dec 20126.8%

Jobs and pay by industry

Private employers in Macon County, annual average 2025. Industries with too few employers to publish are left out.

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

IndustryJobs1-year changeAverage pay
Retail trade554-5.0%$30,696
Accommodation and food services548-2.8%$22,977
Manufacturing520+7.4%$72,257
Wholesale trade191-5.4%$53,631
Finance and insurance186-0.5%$60,552
Agriculture, forestry and fishing182+0.6%$42,754
Other services148-6.3%$40,251
Construction144-6.5%$47,628
Professional and technical services135+0.7%$45,412
Information86-3.4%$72,928
Real estate and rental46-9.8%$27,886
Arts, entertainment and recreation21-12.5%$15,947

Latest quarter (Q1 2026): 4,656 jobs (-5.1% from a year earlier), average weekly wage $893.

Income and output

Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

Total personal income
$804M
+1.9% in a year
Income per person
$52,966
MO: $64,920
GDP
$750M
Current dollars
Real GDP growth
+0.3%
Adjusted for inflation
Macon CountyMissouri
Show as a table
PeriodMacon County
2024$52,966
2023$52,000
2022$52,737
2021$48,240
2020$44,709
2019$40,928
2018$40,457
2017$40,196
2016$40,259
2015$38,167
2014$35,795
2013$34,781
2012$33,040
2011$33,822
2010$31,534

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts

Businesses by industry, trucking companies, banks and bankruptcies in Macon County.

Business profile

Businesses in Macon County

County Business Patterns 2023 and Nonemployer Statistics 2024

Employer businesses
350
Employees
3,507
Mid-March
Annual payroll
$138M
Self-employed businesses
1,227
$70.56M receipts

By industry

  • Retail trade6017.1%
  • Construction4512.9%
  • Health care and social assistance4011.4%
  • Accommodation and food services3810.9%
  • Other services3710.6%
  • Finance and insurance308.6%
  • Professional and technical services174.9%
  • Wholesale trade144.0%

By number of employees

  • 1 to 418853.9%
  • 5 to 98123.2%
  • 10 to 194613.2%
  • 20 to 49246.9%
  • 50 to 9972.0%
  • 100 to 24930.9%
  • 250 to 49900.0%
  • 500 to 99900.0%
  • 1,000 or more00.0%

Neighboring counties

Unemployment rate, Aug 2026

CountyRate1 year
Shelby County3.2%-0.4 pts
Chariton County3.8%-0.4 pts
Linn County4.0%-0.6 pts
Macon CountyThis county4.2%-0.6 pts
Monroe County4.3%-0.1 pts
Knox County4.4%-0.9 pts
Randolph County4.6%+0.4 pts
Adair County5.3%-0.1 pts

Federal money in Macon County

Federal awards, pandemic loans and political donations

Frequently asked questions

What is the unemployment rate in Macon County, MO?
The unemployment rate in Macon County was 4.2% in Aug 2026, not seasonally adjusted, with 6,118 people in the labor force.
What is the average salary in Macon County?
Jobs in Macon County paid an average of $45,561 in 2025 ($876 a week), across 4,823 jobs covered by unemployment insurance.
What are the biggest industries in Macon County?
The largest private industries by jobs are retail trade (554), accommodation and food services (548), manufacturing (520).
What is the income per person in Macon County?
Personal income per person was $52,966 in 2024, compared with $64,920 for Missouri. It counts wages, business income, investment income and government benefits.
How many businesses are in Macon County?
Macon County had 350 business establishments with paid employees in 2023, plus 1,227 businesses with no employees.