Springfield unemployment rate drops in September

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area recorded an unemployment rate decrease in September, according to data released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Springfield MSA – which comprises Greene, Christian, Dallas, Polk and Webster counties – posted an unemployment rate in September of 2.7%, according to a news release. That's down from 3.4% in August.

All of the state's eight metro areas had month-over-month decreases.

The state's metro areas, by September unemployment rate, are as follows:
• Columbia, 2.4%, down from 3.2% in August
• Jefferson City, 2.5%, down from 3.5%
• Springfield, 2.7%, down from 3.4%
• St. Joseph, 2.7%, down from 3.6%
• Cape Girardeau, 2.9%, down from 3.9%
• Joplin, 3.1%, down from 3.9%
• Kansas City, 3.1%, down from 3.7%
• St. Louis, 3.3%, down from 3.9%

Missouri's unemployment rate decreased to 3% in September from 3.9% in August, according to the release. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

Compared with a year prior, September's unemployment rates were higher in 260 of the 389 metro areas measured nationwide by the BLS, lower in 101 and unchanged in 28. The Springfield MSA's September 2023 unemployment rate was 2.4%.