Jobless rate flat in Springfield MSA

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area unemployment rate remained at 6.1 percent in March, according to the latest civilian workforce data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The jobless rate in the five-county MSA had been inching upward from 4.7 percent in December to 6.1 percent in February. During the last two months, there were roughly 13,700 people unemployed across Greene, Christian, Dallas, Polk and Webster counties, according to the BLS. The civilian workforce in the Springfield MSA represented 224,300 workers.

Each of Missouri’s metropolitan areas, except Joplin, trimmed its jobless rate from February. The Joplin area inched up to 6.2 percent from 6.1 percent.

Here’s a look at preliminary unemployment rates across the state in March:

• Columbia, 5 percent;
• Springfield, 6.1 percent;
• Joplin, 6.2 percent;
• St. Joseph, 6.2 percent;
• Jefferson City, 6.4 percent;
• Kansas City, 6.7 percent;
• Cape Girardeau-Jackson, 7.2 percent; and
• St. Louis, 7.7 percent.

The Missouri unemployment rate registered at 7.4 percent in March.

Compared to a year ago, the Springfield MSA unemployment rate was 5.9 percent.