Missouri adds jobs; unemployment rate rises

In April, unemployment across the state edged up a tenth of a point to 4.6 percent. However, that’s down from 5.5 percent last April.

Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment was up by 300 jobs for the month and has added 29,600 jobs in the last year.

The largest growth over the last year has been in trade, transportation and utilities, which added 8,600 jobs. That industry was closely followed by education and health services, which added 8,500 jobs.

For the year, professional and business services added 3,200 jobs, with about two-thirds of those in professional, scientific and technical services. Leisure and hospitality industries added 2,400 jobs in the last year, while financial activities employment gained 2,900 jobs.

Exceptions to the growth trend were in manufacturing, where employment was down 4,900 jobs over the year. Motor-vehicle manufacturing lost 1,600 jobs, food manufacturing lost 1,500 jobs and other nondurable goods manufacturing dropped by 1,100 jobs. Machinery manufacturing, however, has added 1,000 jobs since last April.

Information employment was down 1,400 jobs for the year, while the government sector added 5,300 jobs.