Missouri's unemployment rate dips in latest report

The Show Me State's unemployment rate was down slightly in November, according to the latest data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

The statewide jobless rate decreased to 3.7% last month from a revised October rate of 3.8%, according to a news release.

Month over month, the state's nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1,200 jobs to nearly 3.1 million. Industries with job increases included government, which was up by 2,700, and private education and health services, also up 2,700. Offsetting those figures were goods-producing industries, down 800 jobs, and private service-providing industries, down 700.

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area's seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll ranks were 239,300 in November, a month-over-month decrease of 100 jobs, according to the release.

The MERIC report indicates the private workforce in the Springfield MSA in November was 210,800, with those workers making average weekly earnings of $867.05.