Missouri's unemployment rate ticks up

Missouri's unemployment rate increased amid a drop in jobs in January, according to data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center released this morning.

The state's unemployment rate was 3.7% in January, up from a revised December rate of 3.6%, according to a news release.

Nonfarm payroll ranks statewide were down by 17,200 jobs in January from December. Month-over-month decreases included a drop of 10,200 jobs in private service-providing industries and a dip of 8,600 jobs in goods-producing industries. Government was up by 1,600 jobs month over month, as was private education and health services, up 400.

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area's seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll ranks were 236,500 in January, a month-over-month decrease of 400 jobs, according to the release.

The MERIC report indicates the private workforce in the Springfield MSA in January was 202,600, with those workers making average weekly earnings of $806.59.