Jobless rate falls in Springfield metro area

The unemployment rate in the Springfield metropolitan statistical area dropped four-tenths of a point from March to 5.4 percent in April, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The area's jobless rate also fell from 5.8 percent in April 2012, according to a news release.

Missouri metropolitan areas by April unemployment rate:

• Columbia, 4.4 percent
• St. Joseph, 5.1 percent
• Jefferson City, 5.2 percent
• Joplin 5.4 percent
• Springfield, 5.4 percent
• Cape Girardeau-Jackson, 5.9 percent
• Kansas City, 6.1 percent
• St. Louis, 6.7 percent

During April, jobless rates were lower than the same month a year earlier in 276 of the 372 metropolitan areas measured by the BLS, higher in 78 and unchanged in 18, the release said. The national unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in April.