Midwest tallies lowest unemployment average

The May unemployment rate in the Midwest was 5.1 percent, representing the lowest regional rate among the four geographic divisions measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

However, the region was the only one that reported a month-to-month increase. The Midwest’s April unemployment rate was 5 percent, according to a news release.

All other regions were flat. The unemployment rate in the South was 5.4 percent last month, followed by 5.6 percent in the Northeast and 5.8 percent in the West.

In May, 25 states reported unemployment rate increases from April, nine states and the District of Columbia posted decreases and 16 were unchanged, according to the release.

According to the BLS, Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 5.8 percent, above the national jobless rate of 5.5 percent for the month.