Springfield MSA unemployment jumps in January

The jobless rate in the Springfield metropolitan statistical area increased to 6.1 percent in January, up from 5.4 percent in December.

That compares to 6.7 percent in January 2012, according to a news release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In Missouri, the highest employment rate was in the St. Louis metro area, at 8 percent. Missouri unemployment rates by metro area:

• Columbia, 5 percent;
• St. Joseph, 5.7 percent;
• Jefferson City, 5.9 percent;
• Joplin, 5.9 percent;
• Springfield, 6.1 percent.
• Cape Girardeau-Jackson, 6.7 percent;
• Kansas City, 6.9 percent; and
• St. Louis, 8 percent.

Among the 372 metropolitan areas measured by the BLS, 227 had lower unemployment rates in January than the same month in 2012, 124 areas reported higher jobless rates and 21 were unchanged, according to the release.