Missouri jobs, unemployment rate rise

On a seasonally adjusted basis, 7,600 jobs were added in February, up 0.3 percent from January. Total nonfarm employment was 2.8 million jobs.

With the additional 7,600 jobs created, employment is up 37,500, or 1.4 percent, from 2005.

The nonseasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February was 4.8 percent, up from 4.7 percent. On a not-seasonally adjusted basis, the jobless rate increased to 5.4 percent in February from 5.2 percent the previous month. The rate has fallen by nine-tenths of a point since February 2005.

Job increases were spread among most industry groups, seen mostly in leisure and hospitality, which added 3,900 jobs, seasonally adjusted.

On a nonseasonally adjusted basis, trade, transportation and utilities employment grew by 3,000 jobs, and educational and health services employment was up by 1,200.

While unseasonably warm weather throughout the winter caused construction jobs to increase, that industry decreased by 2,400 jobs between January and February as Missouri experienced colder conditions. Overall, construction is up 4.8 percent for the year.

The industries of leisure and hospitality; health care and social assistance; trade, transportation and utilities; and financial activities have had increases for the year. Exceptions to the growth trend are in manufacturing, telecommunications and accounting.