Springfield MSA unemployment rate edges up in March

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area unemployment rate edged up a tenth of a point to 5.3 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

Compared to the same month last year, the five-county Springfield metro area’s jobless rate was down seven-tenths of a point, according to a news release.

In March, the Springfield MSA had the fourth-lowest jobless rate among the eight metro areas measured by the BLS:

• Columbia, 4.1 percent;
• Joplin, 5.1 percent;
• Jefferson City, 5.2 percent;
• Springfield, 5.3 percent;
• Kansas City, 5.4 percent;
• St. Joseph, 5.5 percent;
• Cape Girardeau, 5.7 percent; and
• St. Louis, 5.9 percent.

Of the 387 MSAs the BLS measures, 358 had lower unemployment rates than a year ago, 28 were higher and one was unchanged.

The BLS reported March unemployment rates in Missouri of 6.1 percent and the U.S. of 5.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted, according to the release.

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