Springfield unemployment rate drops sharply

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area's unemployment rate decreased significantly, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In July, the MSA's jobless rate was 2.8%, down from 4% in June, according to a news release. The five-county area comprises Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties.

All of Missouri's eight metro areas posted unemployment rate decreases in July:
• Columbia, 2.5%, down from 3.6% in June;
• Jefferson City, 2.5%, down from 3.5%;
• Springfield, 2.8%, down from 4%;
• St. Joseph, 3.2%, down from 4.2%;
• Joplin, 3.3%, down from 4.4%;
• Cape Girardeau, 3.5%, down from 4.5%;
• Kansas City, 4.4%, down from 5.4%; and
• St. Louis, 4.4%, down from 5.3%.

Missouri's unemployment rate was 3.9% in July, down from 5.1% in June, according to the release. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

Nationally, compared with the same month a year earlier, July unemployment rates were lower in 388 of the 389 metro areas measured by the BLS. The Springfield MSA's July 2020 unemployment rate was 6.3%.