Missouri unemployment rate drops to historic low

Missouri's unemployment rate made history in September, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

With a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.4% last month, the preliminary figure marked the lowest recorded point since the data series began in 1976, according to a news release. The previous low was 2.5% in August.

September's nonfarm payroll employment was 2.9 million, an increase of 2,700 jobs from the revised August figure.

Industries with gains during September included leisure and hospitality, up 4,800; professional and business services, up 4,000; financial activities, up 1,000; and trade, transportation and utilities, up 800. Partially offsetting those increases were industries such as information services, down 700, and educational and health services, down 100, according to the release.