Missouri unemployment shows slight drop

Unemployment in Missouri was at 8.9 percent, down from 9.1 percent in March and 9.5 percent in April 2010. Nationwide, unemployment grew 0.2 percent in April to 9 percent, which is 0.8 of a point lower than a year ago, according to a BLS news release.

Preliminary nonfarm payroll data for Missouri shows 2.66 million nonfarm jobs for April, up from 2.65 million in April 2010, the release said. 

Regionally, in the Midwest – which includes Missouri in its West North Central Region – unemployment was 8.1 percent for April, down from 8.3 percent in March and 9.7 percent in April 2010.