With an increase of 21,100 jobs in January, Missouri’s unemployment rate fell to 7.5 percent, according to Missouri Department of Economic Development officials.
The seasonally adjusted January rate is the lowest monthly level since November 2008, the month Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon took office.
With recent upticks in nonfarm payroll employment, the state’s unemployment rate has now fallen by 2.2 percent since a January 2010 peak of 9.7 percent, according to a DED news release. The U.S. unemployment rate held at 8.3 percent in January.
As governor, Nixon has identified job creation as his top priority, and he has spent time and resources touting the state’s Missouri Works program and export sales growth.
Nixon has been criticized for excessive spending on travel around the state – roughly $200,000 each year in office – to promote job creation packages.
Nixon said in a statement this morning he was committed to staying connected with businesses statewide.
“Today’s jobs report is another strong indicator that our economy is moving in the right direction,” Nixon said in a separate news release. “From our booming exports of Missouri-made goods, to the resurgence of Missouri manufacturing, to our continued investments in worker training, to our record funding for K-12 education, we are focused relentlessly on creating jobs and career opportunities and moving Missouri’s economy forward. I will continue to work closely with businesses in every corner of our state to create more jobs and keep our economy growing.”
The governor has visited the Springfield area as many as 12 times in the last year, most recently stopping at Custom Metalcraft on Feb. 21 to tout 2011 export figures that were previously released Feb. 10.
Nixon organized other news conferences at Paul Mueller Co. in October, to announce the addition of nearly 300 jobs within three years, and Custom Powder Systems in January, to promote a state job training program that last year awarded the Springfield manufacturer with $31,000 in training assistance.
The jobs outlook locally includes plans by Diamond International to add 33 jobs amid a $5.9 million capital investment and John Deere Reman to add 55 jobs at a $14 million plant under construction in Strafford.[[In-content Ad]]
