City, state unemployment rates rise in November

While some economic leaders may be touting the end of the recession, the latest unemployment figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that employment in Springfield and in Missouri hasn't caught up as of November.

Unemployment in the Springfield metropolitan statistical area hit 8.2 percent in November, up from 8 percent in October and 5.9 percent in November 2008. Statewide, unemployment reached 9.2 percent, up from 8.9 percent the month before and 6.5 percent a year earlier.

Total nonfarm payroll figures totaled 198,300 for Springfield in November, down from 199,500 in October.

Both unemployment rates are ahead of the national rate, which hit 9.4 percent in November. BLS reports that 125 metro areas had unemployment rates of 10 percent or greater, up from 21 metro areas a year earlier. Of those, 17 posted rates of 15 percent or more, and 11 of those areas were in California.

North Dakota continues to outperform the rest of the country; Bismarck posted the lowest unemployment rate at 3.4 percent, with Fargo and Grand Forks each posting 3.7 percent unemployment.