Springfield metro area's unemployment rate rises

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area's unemployment rate rose in October, according to the latest data released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Springfield MSA – which comprises Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties – had a jobless rate last month of 2.9%, according to a news release. That's up from 2.3% in September.

All of Springfield’s metropolitan peers in the state followed suit.

The state’s metro areas, by October unemployment rate, are:
• Columbia, 2.7%, up from 2.1% in September.
• Jefferson City, 2.7%, up from 2.1%.
• Springfield, 2.9%, up from 2.3%.
• St. Joseph, 2.9%, up from 2.4%.
• Cape Girardeau, 3.1%, up from 2.5%.
• Joplin, 3.2%, up from 2.6%.
• Kansas City, 3.2%, up from 2.7%.
• St. Louis, 3.4%, up from 3.1%.

Missouri's unemployment rate in October jumped to 3.2% from 2.6% in September, according to the release. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

Compared with a year earlier, October unemployment rates were higher in 223 of the 389 metro areas measured nationwide by the BLS, lower in 137 and unchanged in 29. The Springfield MSA's October 2022 unemployment rate was 2%.