JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Show-Me State unemployment rate remained steadily low at 3.7 percent, though increasing by .2 percent, while employment grew by nearly 5,000 nonfarm jobs in January, according to a new report by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
Most of the growth Missouri saw in employment came from the private service-providing sector with 5,900 more jobs than in December. Professional, scientific, and technical services added 2,800 positions while health care and social assistance grew by 2,500 jobs. Wholesale trade and arts, entertainment, and recreation also saw gains in January.
Not all industries faired as well. with decreases in construction along with accommodation and food services. Overall, it balanced out to Missouri gaining 4,900 nonfarm jobs.
Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January remained steady at 3.7 percent, which is down from 4.1 percent one year ago. Since April 2017, unemployment figures remained between 3.6 percents and 3.8 percents.
For 33 consecutive months, Missouri has had a lower unemployment rate than the national average.
Check out the full report here.
Alisha Shurr was a reporter for The Missouri Times and The Missouri Times Magazine. She joined The Missouri Times in January 2018 after working as a copy editor for her hometown newspaper in Southern Oregon. Alisha is a graduate of Kansas State University.
