Number of employed workers up; unemployment keeps pace

The number of employed workers in Springfield continued a three-month upward trend during the first quarter of 2010, but unemployment also kept pace.

Springfield reported 197,200 employed workers in March, up from 196,800 in February and 196,400 in January, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. But unemployment figures also edged up to 9.4 percent in March, from 9.2 percent in February and 9 percent in January.

The labor category in Springfield with the largest increase was leisure and hospitality, jumping to 18,100 workers in March. The 12-month change represented an increase from 17,200 in January and 17,500 in February.

The category with the biggest drop was mining, logging and construction with 7,700 workers in March, up from 7,300 in January and 7,400 in February.

However, the 12-month change indicates a 9.8 percent decrease from January 2009 in workers employed and a 9.9 percent decrease from February 2009.

Statewide, the number of workers held steady through the first quarter – 2.7 million at the end of March, down slightly from 2.71 million in January. The unemployment rate for March was 9.5 percent

Nationwide, unemployment held at 9.7 percent through each month of the first quarter.