Mo. unemployment rate decreases despite job count drop

Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a point to 5.6 percent in August, according to the state Department of Economic Development.

While several industries reported job increases last month, overall nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 400, according to a news release.

Industries that registered increases were:
    •    trade, transportation and utilities, at 3,500;
    •    health care and social assistance, 2,000;
    •    nondurable goods manufacturing, 1,100; and
    •    administrative, support and waste management services, 1,000.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation’s nonseasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 5.1 percent. The latest data from the BLS puts the Springfield metropolitan statistical area jobless rate at 5.1 percent in July, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.