Whether it’s launching a career or earning some extra cash with a side hustle, St. Louis’ Webster Groves neighborhood offers cultural excitement and a robust range of opportunities for job seekers and business leaders.
“We have a very strong small business community and fast-growing restaurant industry here,†said Webster Groves Mayor Laura Arnold. “We have entry-level jobs across those growing sectors as well as senior positions in the education sector. We have businesses that care about growth, but they also care about finding people who want to be part of our community and support their employees in their own development.â€Â Â
A community with opportunity
A 126-year-old community in southeastern St. Louis County, Webster Groves is only a few miles from city limits. It is touted as one of the state’s safest areas. And the Missouri Arts Council named Webster Groves as the state’s 2013 Creative Community. All those factors make it an ideal locale to live, work and build a business.
In fact, Arnold touts that the business growth in Webster Groves outpaces the rest of the state even during periods of historic downturn.
“One of the unique things about Webster Groves and our business community is we had more businesses open than closed during the pandemic,†she said. “That’s an endorsement of how strong the opportunity is in Webster Groves, and what an inviting place this is for small businesses and, in turn, job seekers.â€
Even as business growth has been positive, Webster Groves is not immune to a labor shortage that is impacting the entire country.
“Our small businesses are only as good as the people that work for them, and we are committed to helping those businesses find employees that are happy here,†Arnold said.
Job searching made easy
In an effort to pair Webster Groves businesses with the right employees, the city recently launched . The website has an average of 60 jobs posted, according to Arnold, and offers the chance for job seekers to easily find positions in the business, nonprofit and public sectors.
One of the website’s major benefits is that it is targeted, meaning that there is less clutter than on a nationwide job search website.
“The best thing about this resource for employers is it cuts through the clutter of the big national job-seeking sights,†Arnold said. “Businesses can connect with people looking for a change or looking to launch a career. Maybe you want a job closer to home, maybe you are a student who wants a job near campus. Both employers and job seekers can narrow down their options. Ultimately, it lets potential employees easily identify and apply for jobs that fit into their life.†Â
Just as the range of opportunities is vast — from salaried to hourly, part-time to full-time — Arnold notes that the community hopes to cast a wide net to attract talent.
“We are of course targeting people who live in and around our community to consider working in Webster Groves, but we are open to all comers,†Arnold said.
She added that those who may be unfamiliar with Webster Groves will find an inviting community.
“We have a beautiful mix of old and new in our community in terms of your feel when you’re here, and people who live or work here can enjoy that much of Webster Groves is walkable. That is not true in a lot of suburban communities.â€
to learn more about job opportunities in Webster Groves.
