Missouri's unemployment rate drops

Missouri's unemployment rate decreased by more than two percentage points in June, according to the latest data released today by the state Department of Economic Development.

The state's seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 7.9% last month, compared with 10.1% in May, according to a news release. That compares with the U.S. unemployment rate of 11.1% in June, meaning Missouri's jobless rate has been below the national average for 64 straight months.

Missouri nonfarm payroll ranks totaled 2.7 million in June, an increase of 71,600 jobs from May. Private-sector employment increases included service-providing industries, at 61,900 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities, at 20,500; and good-producing industries, at 9,700. Losses included educational and health services, which was down by 3,000 jobs last month, and state government, which decreased by 2,800.

The DED data show the state's unemployment rate was steady at 3.5% in January and February before the coronavirus pandemic took hold in March, when it was 4.5%.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics this month reported the Springfield metropolitan statistical area's unemployment rate decreased to 8.2% in May from 9.2% in April.