MO unemployment rate drops to 8.8%

Despite a drop in payroll count, Missouri's seasonally adjusted June unemployment rate decreased a tenth of a point to 8.8 percent. The state's unemployment rate was 8.9 percent in both May and April.

The state's nonfarm payroll fell by 12,900 for the month, largely due to recent natural disasters. The Joplin area lost 9,400 jobs in the first full month of calculating figures after the May 22 EF-5 tornado. Flooding in southern and northwest Missouri and tornados in the St. Louis and Sedalia areas also contributed to the total job loss, according to a news release from the MIssouri Department of Economic Development.

The Kansas City metropolitan statistical area dropped 9,200 jobs. Springfield, however, increased its payroll count by 1,600 jobs.