Springfield’s unemployment rate rises

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area’s unemployment rate increased in November, as did the rest of the state.

Unemployment in the Springfield MSA climbed to 2.8% in November from 2.2% in October, according to a news release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

All eight MSAs in Missouri reported increase, and Missouri as a whole posted a bump to 3% in November from 2.5% in October.

Missouri’s MSAs, in order of November unemployment rates, are:
• Columbia, 2.2%, up from 1.7% in October;
• Jefferson City, 2.5%, up from 1.9%;
• St. Joseph, 2.6%, up from 2.3%;
• Kansas City, 2.8%, up from 2.7%;
• Springfield, 2.8%, up from 2.2%
• Joplin, 2.9%, up from 2.4%;
• St. Louis, 3%, up from 2.7%; and
• Cape Girardeau, 3.1%, up from 2.5%.

Compared with a year earlier, November unemployment rates were lower in 223 of the 389 MSAs measured by the BLS, higher in 173 and unchanged in 29. The Springfield MSA’s November 2018 unemployment rate was 2.1%, according to the release.