Springfield MSA unemployment rate rises nearly 1%

The unemployment rate in the Springfield metropolitan statistical area bumped up in January nearly a full percentage point.

The jobless rate in the five-county area rose to 5.5 percent from 4.7 percent in December, but the Springfield metro area wasn't alone. All eight of the Missouri MSAs measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics experienced month-to-month unemployment rate increases, according to a news release.

During January, the Springfield MSA - which comprises Greene, Christian, Webster, Dallas and Polk counties - recorded the second-lowest unemployment rate in Missouri, beat only by the Columbia metro area's 4.5 percent jobless rate. Missouri's MSA unemployment rates for January were:

• Columbia, 4.5 percent;
• Springfield, 5.5 percent;
• Joplin, 5.6 percent
• St. Joseph, 5.7 percent;
• Jefferson City, 5.9 percent;
• Kansas City, 6.4 percent;
• Cape Girardeau-Jackson, 6.8 percent; and
• St. Louis, 7.5 percent.

The Springfield MSA's January jobless rate was a full percentage point lower than in January 2013, when the area recorded a rate of 6.5 percent. All Missouri metro areas saw year-to-year decreases, with the exception of Cape-Girardeau Jackson, which was flat, according to the release.

Missouri's January unemployment rate inched up a tenth of a point to 6 percent, while the U.S. rate dropped a tenth of a point to 6.8 percent during the month, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Some analysts have cited a harsh winter weather season for Missouri's unemployment woes. The state Department of Economic Development reported last week the February unemployment rate rose to 6.4 percent in the Show-Me State.