Springfield area unemployment rate rises again

About 1,100 more workers left the Springfield metropolitan work force in February, pushing up the area's jobless rate to 8.1 percent.

The rate was up from 7.7 percent - adjusted from the preliminary 7.6 percent originally reported - in January and 6.2 percent in December, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Wednesday. The Springfield metro area had a 4.9 percent unemployment rate in February 2008.

The latest figures show 17,600 unemployed workers in the Springfield area, up from 16,500 in January.

The Springfield metro area encompasses Christian, Dallas, Greene, Polk and Webster counties.

Unemployment rates in February were higher in every U.S. metropolitan area compared to January, according to the report.

Missouri broke the 9 percent mark in February, compared to 8.7 percent unemployment in January. The national jobless rate was 8.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 8.5 percent in January and 5.2 percent in February 2008.[[In-content Ad]]