MO unemployment rate rises

Missouri's unemployment rate inched up to 7.2 percent in August, a tenth of a point higher than July.

A scheduled early start to the school year spurred job growth in local government, where more than 5,000 jobs were added in August, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Month-to-month gains also were recorded in the health care and social assistance; administrative support and waste management; and construction industries.

For the one-year period ending in August, the largest increase was in leisure and hospitality, at 14,800 jobs; followed by health care and social assistance, at 10,500; and construction, at 8,300.

Missouri's civilian labor force increased by 3,800 in August, bringing an increase of 20,900 during the past year, according to the release.