Fast Facts: Workers, unemployment rising in city

The number of workers on the job in Springfield is on the rise. After hitting a six-month high in July and bottoming out in August, Springfield’s civilian labor force is climbing back, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Feb. 11. Although the number of workers is increasing, so is the city’s unemployment rate. After a six-month low of 8 percent in October, unemployment edged up to 8.4 percent in December.

Six-month Employment Snapshot
There were 200,700 people employed during December in Springfield, while 18,400 were in the jobless ranks during the same month.

• Civilian labor force: July, 219,400*; August, 214,900; September, 218,000; October, 218,000; November, 218,600; December, 219,100

• Employment: July, 200,800; August, 196,500; September, 200,100; October, 200,600; November, 200,500; December, 200,700

• Unemployment: July, 18,700; August, 18,400; September, 18,000; October, 17,400; November, 18,100; December, 18,400

• Unemployment rate: July, 8.5%*; August, 8.5%*; September, 8.2%; October, 8%; November, 8.3%; December, 8.4%

           *Six-month highs

Top 5 Jobs
The leading Springfield employment category is trade, transportation and utilities, employing 45,100 workers in December, an increase of 3.4 percent compared to July.

1. Trade, transportation and utilities   

• July, 43,600; August, 43,500; September, 43,800; October, 43,900; November, 44,800; December, 45,100

• 12-month percent change: July, down 0.2%; August, down 0.5%; September, down 0.2%; October, down 0.5%; November, up 0.02%; December, up 0.2%

2. Education and Health Services   

• July, 38,100; August, 38,400; September, 39,000; October, 39,300; November, 39,400; December, 39,500
• 12-month percent change: July, up 2.4%; August, up 2.7%; September, up 3.7%; October, up 4.0%; November, up 3.7%; December, up 3.7%

3. Government   

• July, 26,000; August, 24,700; September, 29,200; October, 30,000; November, 30,100; December, 30,300
• 12-month percent change: July, up 1.2%; August, up 5.1%; September, up 2.5%; October, up 3.8%; November, up 4.2%; December, up 5.9% 

4. Leisure and Hospitality    

• July, 18,600; August, 19,100; September, 18,800; October, 18,100, November, 17.800; December, 17,400
• 12-month percent change: July, up 0.5%; August, up 2.7%; September, up 0.5%; October, down 1.6%; November, down 1.1%; December, down 2.2%

5. Professional and Business Services   

• July, 18,500; August, 18,500; September, 18,200; October, 18,300; November, 18,000; December, 18,400
• 12-month percent change: July, up 2.2%; August, up 3.9%; September, up 1.7%; October, up 2.2%; November, up 4.0%; December, up 3.4%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics