State payroll employment reaches record high

Missouri’s nonfarm payroll employment ranks grew by 15,000 jobs in April to a record high of 2.82 million, according to the state Department of Economic Development.

The previous high of 2.81 million was set in February 2008, according to a news release.

Despite the increase, the state’s unemployment rate ticked up a tenth of a point to 4.3 percent in April, according to seasonally adjusted data from the DED. That’s below the U.S. unemployment rate of 5 percent in April. The national rate is not seasonally adjusted.

The top Missouri job-gaining industries in April were:
    •    leisure and hospitality, at 7,200 jobs;
    •    administrative, support and waste management services, 6,500;
    •    professional, scientific and technical services, 2,100;
    •    financial activities, 1,400; and
    •    durable goods manufacturing, 1,000.

During the past 12 months, the Show-Me State’s nonfarm employment grew by 37,100 jobs, according to the release.