Mo. employment falters after hitting record high

After setting a nonfarm payroll employment high of 2.82 million in April, Missouri’s job ranks dropped by 5,900 in May.

The state’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3 percent. For two years, Missouri’s figure has been below the national jobless rate, which was 4.7 percent in May, according to a state Department of Economic Development news release.

The largest statewide job gains were reported in the category the DED defines as other services. The 1,500-job increase was largely attributed to repair and personal services companies.

Other May job increases included 1,200 in professional, scientific and technical services; 1,000 in finance and insurance; and 900 in nondurable goods manufacturing, according to the release.

DED spokeswoman Amy Susan said via email job decreases were recorded in administrative and support services, at 3,200; construction, at 2,700; and leisure and hospitality, at 1,900.

The latest federal data for the Springfield metropolitan statistical area puts the region’s unemployment rate at 3.7 percent in April, a drop from 4.2 percent in March and February.