State jobless numbers hold steady

The state’s unemployment rate fell a tenth of one point, to 5.6 percent, on a nonseasonally adjusted basis. The seasonally adjusted rate climbed two-tenths of a point to 5.6 percent. The current seasonally adjusted rate is three-tenths of a point below the level of a year ago, while the nonseasonally adjusted rate has fallen by six-tenths of a point in that time.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 2,800 jobs during July, due in large part to gains in the construction industry.

Yearly payroll increases now total more than 40,000. Most of those gains can be traced back to growth in manufacturing (5,400 jobs), construction (1,200) and government employment, up 3,600 jobs for the year.

“These latest job numbers are encouraging because they show that Missouri's economy is strong and growing stronger,” Blunt said in the release. “I am confident that Missouri will continue to create the kind of high-quality jobs our citizens deserve thanks to our pro-jobs approach to economic development.”