Mo. unemployment rate dips to 6.5 percent

The Missouri Department of Economic Development reports the state’s June unemployment rate dipped to 6.5 percent from 6.6 percent in May, according to its seasonally adjusted data.

While the unemployment rate dropped slightly, so did nonfarm payroll employment during the month, according to a DED news release.

May’s revised payroll employment jumped to 8,200 jobs in the month from an earlier estimate of 3,700 new jobs. While June employment fell by 1,800 jobs, the revised jobs’ numbers for May more than made up the difference, according to the report.

Several industries saw job gains in June, according to the release. Arts, entertainment and recreation industries added 1,800 jobs, and the professional, scientific and technical services industry also gained 1,100 new payroll positions.

During 2014, the state's nonfarm payrolls increased by 44,200 jobs, according to the report.

The national unemployment rate was at 6.1 percent in June after adding 288,000 new jobs.

The most recent unemployment figure for the Springfield metropolitan statistical area comes from May, when the rate was 5.1 percent.[[In-content Ad]]