Springfield’s unemployment rate dips

The August unemployment rate for the the Springfield metropolitan statistical area dipped to 3 percent, according to data released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Springfield MSA’s jobless rate was down from 3.1 percent in July and even compared with June, according to a news release. The MSA covers Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties.

The eight other metro areas in Missouri also recorded decreases in their respective unemployment rates.

The MSAs, in order of August unemployment rates, are:
    •    Columbia, 2.6 percent, down from 2.9 percent in July;
    •    Jefferson City, 3 percent, down from 3.2 percent;
    •    Springfield, 3 percent, down from 3.1 percent;
    •    St. Joseph, 3.1 percent, down from 3.4 percent;
    •    Cape Girardeau, 3.2 percent, down from 3.7 percent;
    •    Joplin, 3.3 percent, down from 3.5 percent;
    •    Kansas City, 3.6 percent, down from 3.9 percent; and
    •    St. Louis, 3.6 percent, down from 3.8 percent.

Missouri’s August unemployment rate ticked down to 3.5 percent from 3.8 percent in July, according to the release. The BLS data is not seasonally adjusted.

Compared with the same month of 2017, unemployment rates were lower in August in 340 of the 388 metro areas measured by the BLS, higher in 35 and unchanged in 13. The Springfield MSA’s August jobless rate was down from 3.6 percent in the same month of 2017.