Springfield metro's unemployment rate drops to 2%

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area's unemployment rate dropped sharply in September, according to the latest data issued this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The five-county area – comprising Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties – had a jobless rate in September of 2%, according to a news release. That compares with 2.7% in August – and 3.9% unemployment a year ago.

The Springfield metro had the third-lowest unemployment rate among the eight Missouri MSAs measured by the BLS.

The MSAs are:
• Columbia, 1.8%, down from 2.4% in August;
• Jefferson City, 1.9%, down from 2.5%;
• Springfield, 2%, down from 2.7%;
• Joplin, 2.3%, down from 3%;
• St. Joseph, 2.3%, down from 3%;
• Cape Girardeau, 2.4%, down from 3.2%
• St. Louis, 3.3%, down from 4.2%; and
• Kansas City, 3.5%, down from 3.8%.

Missouri's unemployment rate moved down in September to 2.9%, compared with 3.5% in August, according to the release. The BLS data is not seasonally adjusted.

Nationally, compared with the same month a year earlier, September unemployment rates were lower in 386 of the 389 metro areas measured by the BLS.