Springfield’s unemployment rate drops again

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area’s unemployment rate in October dropped to 2 percent, below the state level and nearly half the national figure.

The jobless rate in the five-county Springfield metro area — covering Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties — was 2 percent last month, down from 2.3 percent in September and 3 percent in August, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics news release.

The Springfield MSA’s unemployment rate was the third-lowest in the state during October.

Missouri’s MSAs, in order of October unemployment rates, are:
    •    Columbia, 1.6 percent, down from 1.9 percent in September;
    •    Jefferson City, 1.8 percent, down from 2.2 percent;
    •    Springfield, 2 percent, down from 2.3 percent;
    •    Joplin, 2.1 percent, down from 2.4 percent;
    •    St. Joseph, 2.1 percent, down from 2.3 percent;
    •    Cape Girardeau, 2.2 percent, down from 2.5 percent;
    •    Kansas City, 2.7 percent, down from 2.8 percent; and
    •    St. Louis, 2.8 percent, down from 2.9 percent.

Comparatively, Missouri’s unemployment rate was 2.3 percent in October, and the national rate was 3.7 percent. The BLS data is not seasonally adjusted.

Compared with October 2017, 272 of the 388 metro areas measured by the BLS had lower unemployment rates last month, 95 were higher and 21 were unchanged, according to the release.

The Springfield metro area’s unemployment rate in October 2017 was 2.1 percent, according to the BLS.