Springfield, statewide unemployment falls

The Springfield MSA – which comprises Greene, Dallas, Christian, Polk and Webster counties – has grown 2.9 percent so far this year, compared to St. Louis’ growth of 0.5 percent and Kansas City’s growth of 1.1 percent.

The area also added 900 jobs in April, with gains in most industries.

Consistent with nearly every area of the state, the Springfield MSA’s unemployment rate fell for the month, dropping half a point to 3.3 percent in April. That’s down 4.1 percent from a year ago.

Springfield itself came in more than a point below Missouri’s 4.4 percent and the country’s 4.5 percent.

Across the MSA, all counties had improved unemployment. Christian County’s rate dropped three-tenths of a point to 3.2 percent; Dallas County fell six-tenths of a point to 4.3 percent; Greene County dropped half a point to 3.2 percent; Polk County fell half a point to 3.5 percent; and Webster County dropped four-tenths of a point to 3.5 percent.

Elsewhere in southwest Missouri, Joplin’s unemployment rate decreased half a point to 3.7 percent, Branson’s rate fell nearly a point to 8.3 percent and Lebanon’s rate dropped half a point to 4.5 percent.