Local unemployment contributes to statewide decrease

The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate of 3.3 percent was unchanged from April.

Springfield area’s unemployment statistics ranked near the bottom of Missouri’s metropolitan regions. The highest in the state was St. Louis at 4.6 percent, and Columbia had the lowest at 2.9 percent.

Counties in the metro area saw a mix of change, with Dallas County cutting its unemployment from 4.3 percent to 3.5 percent for the month while Polk County’s rate increased eight-tenths of a point to 4.3 percent.

Both Christian County and Webster County experienced decreases at 2.8 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively. Greene County’s rate rose a tenth of a point to 3.3 percent in May.

Statewide unemployment in May fell two-tenths of a point to 4.4 percent – the lowest rate since May 2001.