Springfield MSA unemployment drops significantly in November

The November unemployment rate in the Springfield metropolitan statistical area dropped to 6.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, from 8.5 percent in the same month of 2010.

The November rate also was down six-tenths of a point from October, according to a Jan. 4 news release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The civilian labor force in the MSA - which comprises Greene, Christian, Webster, Dallas and Polk counties - was up 3.5 percent in November to 223,500, compared to 216,000 a year before. From October to November, the figure was relatively unchanged.

Missouri's nonseasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 7.6 percent.

The Springfield MSA had the fourth-lowest unemployment rate among other MSAs in the state during November, falling behind the Columbia MSA, 5 percent; the Jefferson City MSA, 5.8 percent; and the Cape Girardeau-Jackson, Joplin and St. Joseph MSAs, which tied for third at 6.6 percent.

Out of the country's 372 metropolitan areas, unemployment rates were lower in November for 351 of them, higher in 16 and unchanged in 5, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]