State unemployment bucks trend, improves

In October, Missouri’s unemployment rate stopped four months of increases as 9,300 jobs were added, according to the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

The 5.1 percent unemployment rate represents the state’s first monthly reduction since May, when the rate was 4.3 percent. It had gradually increased, but with job gains in September and October, Missouri is now at a record of nearly 2.84 million jobs, according to a DED news release. The state DED revised its September job numbers to 10,100 from an estimate of 6,700 jobs gained.

In the last year, Missouri has gained 50,900 jobs, according to the release.

The greatest gains in private-industry employment last month occurred in administrative, support and waste management services, up 5,200 jobs, followed by health care and social assistance, 4,200 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities, by 2,400 jobs.

The national unemployment rate was little changed in October, at 4.9 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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