Queen City MSA jobless rate drops to 3.6%

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area’s November unemployment rate moved down two-tenths of a point to 3.6 percent in November compared to October.

A year ago, the five-county area’s jobless rate - before seasonal adjustments - was 4.3 percent, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics news release. The MSA comprises Greene, Christian, Dallas, Polk and Webster counties.

Last month, Springfield recorded the fourth-lowest unemployment rate among the eight metro areas in Missouri:
    •    Columbia, 2.8 percent;
    •    Jefferson City, 3.4 percent;
    •    Joplin, 3.5 percent;
    •    Springfield, 3.6 percent;
    •    St. Joseph, 3.8 percent;
    •    Kansas City, 3.9 percent;
    •    Cape Girardeau, 4.1 percent; and
    •    St. Louis, 4.6 percent.

Of the 387 MSAs measured by the BLS, 322 posted lower unemployment rates last month compared to November 2014, 54 moved up and 11 were unchanged, according to the release.

According to the BLS, Missouri’s November jobless rate - before seasonal adjustments - was 4.1 percent. The U.S. rate was 4.8 percent during the month.