Springfield MSA unemployment rate ticks up

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area unemployment rate increased to 6.2 percent in July, compared to an updated June figure of 6.1 percent.

However, last month's figure was down fourth-tenths of a point from the 6.6 percent July 2012 jobless rate in the MSA, which comprises Greene, Christian, Webster, Dallas and Polk counties, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics news release.

During July, Springfield registered the second-lowest unemployment rate among Missouri's eight MSAs. The state's metro jobless rates for July, ranked lowest to highest, were:

• St. Joseph, 6 percent;
• Springfield, 6.2 percent;
• Jefferson City, 6.3 percent;
• Joplin, 6.8 percent;
• Kansas City, 7.1 percent;
• Columbia, 7.2 percent;
• Cape Girardeau-Jackson, 7.4 percent; and
• St. Louis, 7.9 percent.

Last month, 320 of the 372 metro areas measured by the BLS recorded lower unemployment rates compared to the same month a year ago, 38 registered higher rates and 14 were unchanged, according to the release.

The Missouri unemployment rate tallied 7.1 percent in July, while the U.S. rate was 7.4 percent, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.