Springfield MSA unemployment rate dips

The unemployment rate in the Springfield metropolitan statistical area decreased in August, according to data released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The five-county MSA – comprising Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties – recorded a jobless rate last month of 5.9%, down from 6.3% in July, according to a news release.

Results were mixed across Missouri's eight metro areas.

Missouri’s MSAs, in order of August unemployment rates, are:
• Columbia, 5.2%, up from 5.1% in July;
• St. Joseph, 5.5%, flat;
• Jefferson City, 5.9%, up from 5.5%;
• Springfield, 5.9%, down from 6.3%
• Cape Girardeau, 6.2%, down from 6.5%;
• Joplin, 6.4%, down from 6.5%;
• Kansas City, 7.3%, down from 7.6%; and
• St. Louis, 7.9%, down from 8.2%.

Missouri's August unemployment rate dropped to 7.1% from 7.2% in July, according to the BLS data that's not seasonally adjusted.

Compared with the same month of 2019, unemployment rates were higher in 387 of the 389 metro areas measured by the BLS and lower in two, according to the release.