Missouri also ranks in top 10 for the nation for job creation over that period; Gov. Nixon says report is “more proof that hard work pays off”
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon today applauded state-by-state numbers released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showing Missouri’s net gain of 57,100 jobs over the last year led all eight of its neighboring states; the Show Me State also ranked in the top ten nationwide in new jobs. The same data showed Missouri was tied for the largest statistically significant decrease in the nation in the unemployment rate in November.
“On my very first day in office, I pledged to turn Missouri’s economy around and create good jobs for working families across our state,” said Gov. Nixon. “Over the last eight years, we’ve cut our unemployment rate in half, revitalized our manufacturing industry and made Missouri an internationally-recognized center of high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship. This report showing Missouri leading the region in job growth is more proof that hard work pays off. By balancing budgets and making smart investments in our students and workers, we’ve positioned Missouri to compete and win in the global economy.”
The BLS report also showed Missouri’s nonfarm payroll employment grew by 1,900 jobs in November, reaching a new record high for the state with 2,842,200 jobs. The state’s unemployment rate for November also went down by four-tenths of a point to 4.7 percent.
In August, Missouri was named the 6th best state in the nation for its annual advanced manufacturing industry job growth in a new report from the Brookings Institution. The same report also found that Missouri is the 8th best state in the nation for output growth of its advanced manufacturing industry.
